(Zdung trieu law firm)_ Mr Luong Thanh Nghi, the spokesman for the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, yesterday reiterated that Ba Binh Island, which belongs to the Truong Sa (Sprately) Archipelago, falls under Vietnamese sovereignty.

He protested against the recent visit by some Taiwanese administration officials to the island.

"This is an act violating Viet Nam's sovereignty over the archipelago, causing a tense situation in the East Sea," said Nghi.

He demanded that Taiwan stop such erroneous activity immediately.

Responding to China's oil and gas exploration in the East Sea, Nghi said all activities in the East Sea must be conducted in accordance with the international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and with the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea.

He said all countries concerned must contribute to regional peace and stability.

Referring to the incorrect information about Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos on Google Maps, Nghi reiterated the country's indisputable sovereignty.

"Any incorrect information about the two archipelagos is null and void", Nghi said.

He said Viet Nam was willing to share correct documents, maps and data about its sovereignty in the East Sea.

He added that more recently, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry met with a representative from Google and pointed out that key words on its maps distorted the country's sovereignty over the two archipelagos. He said that after the meeting, Google corrected the wrong information as requested by Viet Nam. — VNS