TUOI TRE NEWS – UPDATED : 01/16/2016 15:07 GMT + 7
Vietnam has requested that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) correct the map of a flight information region (FIR) that contains information violating Vietnam’s sovereignty.
The map of the Sanya FIR, which includes Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, has the Chinese words of “Sansha city – China,” according to the Vietnam News Agency.
It also draws a symbol of an airport on Da Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) Reef in Truong Sa, with the English words “Yong Shu airport – Sansha.”
Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said on Friday that moves are a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa, as well as an infringement on Vietnam’s legitimate rights in the East Vietnam Sea.
Vietnam has many times raised a voice protesting China’s establishment of the so-called “Sansha city” and its building of artificial islands and an airport in the area, the spokesman said.
Binh also said that Vietnam has indisputable sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos.
In letters recently sent to ICAO, Vietnamese agencies have affirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty and noted that China’s flights to Da Chu Thap has violated ICAO’s regulations on aviation safety, according to theVietnam News Agency.
On Thursday, the United Nations endorsed two diplomatic notes Vietnam sent to China on January 2 and 7 as official documents of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, the Vietnam News Agencyreported on Friday.
The notes protest China’s flights to Da Chu Thap in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago and make it clear that it is a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty and a threat to peace, and to stability, as well as aviation security and safety in the East Vietnam Sea.
The permanent Vietnam Mission to the United Nations had earlier sent a diplomatic note to the UN Secretary General, demanding that the UN circulate these two notes.