China’s map, oceanic master plan valueless VGP - Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi has described a recently-released map of the People’s Republic of China and China’s 12th five-year-plan for national oceanic development as totally valueless. Nghi made the affirmation at a press briefing in Ha Noi on April 24 while answering reporters’ queries on Viet Nam’s response to the newly-released map and the five-year plan, which violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly), as well as its sovereignty and jurisdiction rights in the East Sea.  “Viet Nam affirms its indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, sovereignty and jurisdiction rights over the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea according to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  “China’s circulation of the map and announcement of the aforementioned master plan seriously violate Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa and Viet Nam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction rights in the East Sea .”  He added that such actions breach international law and an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Viet Nam and China, and are not in line with the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), but raise tensions and complicate the situation in the East Sea.-VNA