VIETNAM

Vietnam has repeated its rejection of China's fishing ban in the South China Sea, saying it violates Vietnam's sovereignty. "Action by any country in Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (the Spratly and Paracells islands) as well as its exclusive economic zones and continental shelf without the consent of the Vietnamese government would constitute a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty over these areas,' foreign ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh told a Vietnam news agency. Thanh referred to China's June 1-July 31 fishing ban in the South China Sea to revive depleted fish stocks. She said all countries involved should maintain stability based on status quo, exercise self-restraint and refrain from any action that would aggravate the situation.