Wed, June 20, 2012
By Mei Jingya, Sina English
Two Su-27 fighters belonging to the Vietnamese air force conducted a 2-hour patrol mission in Nanshan Islands in the South China Sea on Friday before returning to a military airport in a central province, Vietnam Youth Daily’s online edition reported on June 17.
In response to a journalist's question on the subject at Tuesday’s daily media briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, and that Vietnam's recent action is a serious violation of China's sovereignty.
The spokesman urged Vietnam to strictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, avoid actions escalating or complicating the situation, and make efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.
According to the relevant reports, the Vietnamese fighters flew about 1,300 kilometers. The squadron leader of the mission told reporters that they are ready to assert 'sovereignty' of Vietnamese oceans and islands at any time and there will be more regular patrols in the area in the future.
It was also reported that Vietnam is expected to pass its Law of the Sea in late June, which will probably have clauses involving the Nansha and Xisha Islands in the South China Sea.
