As a nation in the East Sea and member of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN), Vietnam on April 21 voiced its concern about the complicated situation in the waters of some ASEAN countries and hoped parties concerned fully abide by international law,  VOV reported on April 21.

New administrative units China set up for Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes are seen as helping to tighten control and help allocate resources and manpower, The South China Morning Post reported on April 18.

The Chinese Haiyang Dizhi 8 survey vessel has returned to waters within Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Reuters cited ship tracking data on April 14.