Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (first, right) with voters in northern Hai Phong City's Hong Bang District yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam
HAI PHONG (VNS) — Hai Phong voters yesterday told the Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, that they were angry at the erection of a Chinese oil rig in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone.
They were speaking out during a visit by the PM to the northern port city of Hai Phong.
The citizens said that China’s installation of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig was unacceptable. They described it as a brazen act that violated international law and ignored the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to which China was a signatory.
They also said the act was directly threatening peace, stability, maritime and aviation security and safety in the East Sea.
They also spoke highly of Dung’s speech at the recent 24th ASEAN Summit, saying that certain lines struck a chord with Vietnamese people.
These “lines” included the statement that “national territory is sacred, and Viet Nam vehemently denounces acts of infringement and will resolutely protect its national sovereignty and legitimate interests in conformity with international law”.
Hai Phong voters requested that the Party, State and Government demand that China immediately withdraw its rig from Vietnamese waters and never again violate Viet Nam’s territorial sovereignty.
The Prime Minister told residents that the international community had supported Viet Nam’s viewpoint, while no country had raised its voice to back China.
Since the rig was anchored deep in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, the country has practised restraint and used all dialogue channels to demand China withdraw not only the rig but also its armed ships.
However, Dung said, China continued to make threatening acts in a more dangerous and serious manner.
He said Viet Nam would do all it could to maintain political stability and a peaceful environment.
The Government leader also told voters of his call for social order, sent to ministries, agencies and authorities of centrally-run cities and provinces.
In it, he asked them to ensure security after protests against China escalated and caused injuries and extensive damage to foreign-owned factories. — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News