HANOI, May 14. /TASS/. Hanoi has called on all interested parties to show restraint in resolving disagreements in the South China Sea, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh told a press conference on Thursday.
The US earlier said it is considering deploying aircraft and ships to contest Chinese claims to disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea.
"All countries in the region and beyond are interested in maintaining peace, stability and ensuring security of navy and air routes in the South China Sea. That is why it is obvious that any emerging disagreements should be solved by peaceful means on the basis of talks and in clear compliance with international law," Binh said.
On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying called for refraining from provocations in the South China Sea. "We urge parties concerned to be discreet in words and actions, avoid taking any risky and provocative actions and safeguard regional peace and stability," the spokesperson said. "The Chinese side advocates the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, yet the freedom definitely does not mean that foreign military vessels and aircrafts can enter one country's territorial waters and airspace at will," she added.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) wrote on Tuesday that "the US military is considering using aircraft and Navy ships to directly contest Chinese territorial claims to a chain of rapidly expanding artificial islands." "Defense Secretary Ash Carter has asked his staff to look at options that include flying Navy surveillance aircraft over the islands and sending US naval ships to within 12 nautical miles of reefs that have been built up and claimed by the Chinese in an area known as the Spratly Islands," WSJ added.