HA NOI (VNS) — The Viet Nam Peace Committee (VPC) and the Viet Nam-China Friendship Association (VCFA) sent messages to relevant Chinese organisations opposing China’s recent acts violating Viet Nam’s sovereignty in the East Sea.
Former Vice President and Chairwoman of the Viet Nam Peace and Development Foundation Nguyen Thi Binh yesterday reads a statement opposing China's illegal deployment of an oil rig in the waters of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Viet Nam, at a meeting held by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations. - VNA/VNS Photo An Dang
In its message to the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament, the VPC wrote that the Vietnamese people had been deeply concerned in recent days over China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s placement of a drilling rig within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Viet Nam.
The committee also expressed concern over the fact that Chinese ships, including military vessels, escorting the rig had repeatedly attacked Vietnamese ships in the area, causing heavy material damage and threatening human life.
“Such actions are serious violations of Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and run counter to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed by ASEAN member states and China,” the message said.
These actions also violated the agreements on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues that the high-ranking leaders of Viet Nam and China had reached, as well as exchanges of views and agreements between the Viet Nam Peace Committee and the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament, the committee wrote, adding that they were the root cause of tension in the East Sea.
The actions adversely impacted the political trust between Viet Nam and China and damaged the time-honored friendship between the people of the two countries, the committee stated.
“The Viet Nam Peace Committee stands energetically against the above-mentioned moves and proposes that the Chinese Association for Peace and Disarmament take measures conducive to preserving the traditional relations of friendship and co-operation between the people of Viet Nam and China ,” the message read.
Meanwhile, the message from the VCFA President to the Chairman of the China-Viet Nam Friendship Association stated that the Vietnamese people and VCFA members were deeply concerned about China’s recent acts in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
In the spirit of friendship and respect for international law, the VCFA leader proposed Chinese forces end their provocative actions, withdraw the rig and avoid further complicating the situation.
He emphasised the need to conduct negotiations to solve these differences, creating a peaceful environment for both nations to develop.
The overseas Vietnamese community in Russia has also vowed to aid their home nation in the face of China’s recent violations of Viet Nam’s sovereignty at sea.
China’s actions have irritated the Vietnamese people and damaged the mutual trust that the two sides have worked hard for, said Bui Hong Phuc, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam-China Friendship Association.
Phuc, who was an ambassador to China from 1997 to 2002, said he found China’s move incomprehensible given its recently announced external policy of being a good neighbour to surrounding countries.
Chinese people lack accurate sources of information about Viet Nam and the relations between the two countries, so it was 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”, Phuc said.
The former ambassador said a May 6 article in China’s Global Times stating that China should give Viet Nam “a lesson” hurt the Vietnamese people.
The Viet Nam Historian Association issued a declaration on Saturday protesting China’s illegal placement of an oil rig within Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone as well as the country’s threats to Vietnamese ships in Vietnamese waters.
The association denounced China’s act and said that China’s move went against pledges by Chinese and Vietnamese leaders and raised regional tensions.
Historically, Viet Nam has respected China and done its utmost to build a friendship with its neighbour, the association stated, adding that history also proved that Viet Nam never gives in to aggression and resolutely defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The association resolutely demanded that China remove its rig and ships from Viet Nam’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.
Chairman of the Viet Nam Journalists Association (VJA) Thuan Huu sent a letter to his Chinese counterpart on Saturday to express his deep concern over the escalating tension in the East Sea. In the letter, he said that China’s actions violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty and contradicted international law and practice, hurting the two peoples and negatively affecting bilateral political trust and co-operation.
The VJA resolutely protested the infringement and demanded that the Chinese side immediately remove its oil rig and vessels from Viet Nam’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 Viet Nam in the current East Sea dispute in order to protect peace and stability, the VJA chairman stated.
He underscored efforts by the Vietnamese Government to protect its legal sovereignty through peaceful measures, such as its calls for dialogues with China. — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News