VietNamNet Bridge – More than 300 Vietnamese living in Belgium along with Belgians who support Vietnam on May 17 staged a demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Brussels to protest against China’s illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou -981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea.

Vietnamese people living in Belgium stage a demonstration to protest China's illegal placement (Source: VNA)

On behalf of the French-speaking Belgian Community, Count Baudouimd de Crombrugghe affirmed that China’s act serious violates Vietnam’s sovereign right and Jurisdiction as regulated in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and related agreements reached by the two countries’ senior leaders.

China’s act has further complicated the East Sea situation and caused more difficulties to dialogue to solve sovereignty disputes in the sea by peaceful means, he said, adding that the move also threatens maritime security and safety in the East Sea, causes instability in the region and the world as a whole and negative impact on the relations between the two countries.

In an interview with Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Belgium, Marnix Smets, director of Pinakes company called on China to respect international law and stop its illegal presence in Vietnam’s waters. He stressed that Chinese ships’ attacks on Vietnam’s marine police and fisheries administration ships is undeniably an invading act.

Huynh Cong My, Chairman of the General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium stated firmly that Vietnamese community in Belgium vehemently object to China’s move and strongly condemn all China’s provocative and violence-inciting acts in the East Sea.

My also said the general association will organise a meeting in front of the European Council’s headquarter and join Vietnamese associations in other countries to hold marches to call for international support.

China’s unlawful action in the East Sea also meets with protest from peace-loving people in Switzerland.

Anjuska Weil, former member of the Presidium of the Swiss Labour Party affirmed that China’s territorial claims in the East Sea run counter to international law.

She suggested that international community should raise their voice to request China to stop immediately its illegal acts and cooperate with neighbouring countries for peace and stability in the East Sea.

Source: Vietnam Plus