Vietnamese Historian Association criticises China for illegal East Sea acts

The Vietnam Historian Association on May 10 issued a declaration protesting China’s illegal placement of an oil rig within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and its threats to Vietnamese ships in Vietnamese waters.

The association denounced China’s act, saying that it has blatantly violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam and deliberately infringed on Vietnam’seconomic exclusive zone.

China’s move defied the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of which China itself is a member. It also violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed between ASEAN and China in 2002.

The association also said that China’s move went against pledges which had been committed by Chinese and Vietnamese leaders and had lifted tensions.

China’s dangerous behaviour has negatively impacted marine safety and security in the East Sea and the interests of ASEAN countries and the world, the association stated.

Historically, Vietnam has respected China and done its utmost to build the friendship with its neighbour, the association stated, adding that history also proves that Vietnam never gives in to aggression and resolutely defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The association has demanded that China remove its rig and ships from Vietnam’s waters in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and in the spirit of DOC to restore peace, stability and marine security in the East Sea.

Vietnamese living in Russia vow to support sovereignty

Vietnamese students and people living in Japan demonstrate in Tokyo on May 11 to protest the China's placement of an oil rig in the waters of Viet Nam. — Photo Vietnamplus

The overseas Vietnamese community in Russia has vowed to aid their home nation in the face of China's recent violations of Vietnam's sovereignty at sea.

The pledge was made in an open letter that will be sent to Party and State leaders. It was drafted at a meeting of the Vietnamese Association in Russia on May 9 discussing its 2013 activities and working out orientations for 2014.

In the letter, they expressed their protest over China's brazen placement of an oil rig in an area deeply within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, and said they feel angry that the Chinese media has distorted the dispute and incited hatred between the two nations.

They also strongly condemned China's provocative acts which have blatantly violated Vietnam's sovereignty and territorial integrity, against the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of the East Sea issue reached by both nations' leaders.

The association fully believes in the leadership of the Party and State and the heroic tradition and strength of Vietnam in firmly safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.

Journalists Association appeals to Chinese press over East Sea tensions

Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA), Thuan Huu has sent a letter to his Chinese counterpart to express his deep concern over the escalating tension in the East Sea as a result of China’s placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, escorted by military vessels.

The move has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and gone against international law and practice, hurting the two peoples and negatively affecting bilateral political trust and cooperation, Huu noted.

The VJA resolutely protests this infringement and demands that the Chinese side immediately remove its oil rig and vessels from Vietnam’s waters and never repeat such actions again.

The All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) and the Chinese press should be fully aware of the legitimate interests and legal stance of Vietnam in the current East Sea dispute in order to protect peace and stability, VJA chairman has stated.

Huu’s letter said that Vietnam and China’s friendship and cooperation must serve the basic interests of the two peoples in the long run and aid regional and global peace, stability and development.

Both sides should respect international laws, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) agreed between China and ASEAN, and the agreements between the two leaders.

The VJA underscored efforts by the Vietnamese Government to protect its legal sovereignty through peaceful measures, including its calls to hold dialogues with China to settle the issue.

UK-VN friendship society voices concern over China’s illegal act in East Sea

The General Secretary of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society (BVFS) Len Aldis on May 10 sent a letter to the Chinese Ambassador in the United Kingdom of Great

Birtain and Northern Ireland Liu Xiaoming to express his concern over the current situation in the East Sea issue due to the presence of illegal Chinese drilling rig HD 981 in Vietnam’s territorial waters.

In his letter, Aldis stressed that BVFS along with many nations and organisations worldwide are deeply worried about the presence of China’s drilling rig and large amount of escort ships in Vietnam’s waters without the permission of the Vietnamese Government.

They have opposed and demanded the Chinese government to withdraw its oil rig and escort ships out of the Vietnam’s waters.

Mr. Len Aldis also expressed his hope that the Chinese Government would respond to the appeal of the international community and respect Vietnam’s sea sovereignty.

China’s act blamed for damaging mutual trust

China’s placement of a drilling rig in Vietnam’s continental shelf has irritated the Vietnamese people and damaged the mutual trust that the two sides have worked hard for, according to Bui Hong Phuc, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association.

Phuc, a former ambassador to China during the 1997-2002 period, said he found China ’s move incomprehensible as it has recently announced a new external policy of being a good neighbour to surrounding countries.

However, the deployment of its oil rig in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam has failed to match the spirit of the policy, surprising those who wish to make the friendship between the two countries better, he said.

China ’s act has gone against what leaders of both countries agreed during meetings of the two presidents last June and the two premiers last October, said Phuc. They agreed to work together to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea , and not to conduct moves that complicate and expand disputes, he noted.

Phuc stated that China ’s move is contrary to the agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues that Vietnam and China signed in 2011, which underscored the wish to make the East Sea a sea of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

The former ambassador cited an article posted on May 6 in China ’s Global Times stating that China should “teach Vietnam a lesson”. This hurt the Vietnamese people, he said.

Those who hold that view have no understanding of Vietnam ’s revolutionary history, including the Dien Bien Phu victory that has just celebrated its 60 th anniversary, he explained.

Chinese people have failed to access sources of accurate and full information of Vietnam and the relations of the two countries. Therefore, it is necessary to help them gain a better understanding of the real situation in the East Sea , the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes and the so called “Nine-dotted line” that China claims, Phuc stressed.

Many Chinese people lack basic knowledge about the issue, he continued, reiterating that he used to meet and explain to many Chinese friends, including businessmen, war veterans and civilians, about the real situation surrounding Hoang Sa, Truong Sa and the “Nine-dotted line”. After understanding the situation, they all agreed that China ’s actions are unacceptable, he said.

Regarding a solution to the issue, Phuc said it is important that that the two sides should sit together for peaceful dialogues. Vietnam cannot accept China continuing to escalate the tension.

China has gone against international opinion and law, arguing that the deployment of its oil rig in Vietnam ’s continental shelf is protecting its national sovereignty based on the so called “Nine-dotted line”. Despite even many experts within China rejecting this, the country has stubbornly insisted on the claim. Therefore, the struggles to preserve Vietnam ’s sovereignty must be continued, he said.

Phuc noted that as soon as the case occurred, the Vietnam-China Friendship Association sent a letter to the China-Vietnam Friendship Association of China, raising concern over China ’s move and demanding the country immediately remove the drilling rig from Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone.

The association also suggested that the two sides sit down for negotiations in the hope of peacefully settling the issue in accordance with the legitimate aspirations of peoples of both sides, he said.

The East Sea issue is also likely to be discussed at the sixth Vietnam-China people’s forum planned for later this year, Phuc revealed, adding that proposals will be given to leaders of both countries to ease tensions and minimise negative impacts.

Fishermen stand strong in face of Chinese actions

Fishermen from Ly Son Island off Vietnam’s central coast have said they are resolutely maintaining voyages around the Hoang Sa archipelago, their traditional fishing

ground, although they are facing difficulties from China’s illegal placement of a drilling rig there.

China illegally positioned the rig, escorted by a large number of vessels, including warships, to operate in Vietnam’s Lot 143 from early this month. The move seriously

violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and its sovereign right and jurisdiction over the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The act violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over territorial waters and threatens local fishermen’s operations, they said.

“It is unacceptable,” said 39-year-old fisherman Nguyen Hong from An Hai commune’s Fisheries Trade Union in Ly Son island district, central Quang Ngai province.

Fisherman Le Binh affirmed that they still go out to sea to work at their Hoang Sa and Truong Sa traditional fishing grounds to catch seafood, contribute to economic development and protect the country’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile at the Nghia Phu Fishing Port, Quang Ngai city, fisherman Tran Tho said he has spent 30 years fishing in territorial waters around the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa

(Spartly) archipelagos. His vessel always crosses the location where China has positioned the oil rig on his way to the Hoang Sa sea area from Ly Son.

The Chinese illegal act has forced fishermen to take a longer route to their fishing grounds, he said, maintaining that he and his colleagues will not be intimidated.

On the morning of May 9, thousands of people in Ly Son Island and surrounding areas strongly protested China’s illegal act in the East Sea.

“Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa is undeniable. We demand China respect that and withdraw all equipment and vessels from Vietnam’s exclusive

economic zone,” Nguyen Quoc Chinh, head of the An Hai communal Fisheries Trade Union, affirmed at the event.

Ly Son Island is home of the Hoang Sa Flotilla, set up by Nguyen Lords to go to Hoang Sa to measure the tides and establish the nation’s sea boundary.