Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung

During his recent working visit to the Philippines, answering the question about the relationship between Vietnam and China in case of China’s illegal rig placement (Haiyang-981) in Viet Nam exclusive economic zone, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has made clear Vietnam’s stance by saying: “Vietnam desires to have peace and friendship, but it must be based on ensuring independence, self-reliance, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vietnam never exchanges these sacred things for an ambiguous and dependent peace and friendship”. The PM’s message not only expressed Vietnamese people’s strong stance, but also proved the wisdom of the Party and Vietnamese people. Vietnam respected China, but is determined to struggle with any wrongdoings.

On May 11, speaking at the plenary session of ASEAN Summit 24th in Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar), a high-level forum in the region, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had officially announced the operating China's unruly behavior when it installed the rig at the location which is 80 miles deep into the Vietnamese continental shelf and exclusive economic zone prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung considered China’s act as "extremely dangerous" because it "gravely violates the international law, the 1982 UNCLOS, and the Declaration on the conducts of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) to which China is a signatory. This extremely dangerous action has been and is directly threatening peace, stability and maritime security and safety in the East Sea".

The PM’s remark stated clearly: "Viet Nam has exercised utmost restraint, showed every gesture of goodwill and exhausted all dialogue channels to communicate with the Chinese authorities of different levels for expressing protest and demanding China to immediately withdraw its drilling rig and armed and military vessels from the Vietnamese waters. Nevertheless, up to now, China has failed to respond to Viet Nam’s legitimate demand. On the contrary, China has been slandering and blaming Viet Nam while continuing to escalate its increasingly dangerous and serious acts of violation".

This is a powerful statement to the international community about China's unruliness and clearly indicate the dangers of the China’s act to Vietnam in particular, the regional countries and the international community in general.

In addition, in his remark, the Prime Minister also "urgently call on ASEAN members, other countries in the world, individuals and international organizations to continue voicing their protest against the above-mentioned acts of serious violation and support the legitimate demand of Viet Nam", he also affirmed national territory is sacred, and Viet Nam vehemently denounces acts of infringement and will resolutely protect our national sovereignty and legitimate interests in conformity with the international law".

The Prime Minister’s remark and statement have received the consensus of international friends and especially the Vietnamese people in the country and abroad.

Over 2 years ago, at the National Assembly Session November 2011, the Prime Minister also confirmed infront of whole Vietnamese nation and people " our consistent stance is Paracel Islands belong to Vietnam, we have sufficient and legal and historical grounds to confirm this. We prefer to negotiate to settle the claims to the Paracel islands by peaceful means. Our policy is consistent with the UN Charter, in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and Declaration of Conduct (DOC)".

In the opening of Shangri-La Dialogue in 2013, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered a keynote address entitled “Building Strategic Trust for Peace, Cooperation and Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region”. In this address, he expressed to international community the aspirations for a world of peace and cooperation of the Government and people of Vietnam: “Peace, cooperation and development represent the interest, the ardent aspirations and the common future of all countries and peoples. In the open spirit of the Shangri-La Dialogue, I would call upon you all to join hands and make concrete actions to build and reinforce strategic trust for an Asia-Pacific region of peace, cooperation and prosperity”.

By the above-mentioned remarks and statements, the Prime Minister has spoken out the ardent aspirations of peace of the Government and people of Vietnam, also affirming our indomitable spirit, especially in the protection of all territorial sovereignty.

On behalf of the Vietnamese people, the Prime Minister spoke out the nation’s stance!

Recently, the multimedia system of China has continuously misinformed news about the situation in Vietnam. Even many newspapers published news and articles with distorted and agitated words. However, not communication is always possible to deceive people.

Many distorted articles have been ironic and satirical by Chinese themselves, they even opposed the attitude and behavior of China to the neibouring countries, including Vietnam.

Greedy-guts named China

A Chinese reader named Chen commented on an online newspaper that: “On the issue of South China Sea , we are so greedy. I know a Chinese will be insulted if he speaks out that idea but the fact is the fact. We are rising but should not trample upon other smaller countries”.

Not only the mentioned-above reader but also many others are resentful  about the double-talk of Chinese authorities and academics over the issues of South China Sea and nine dash line. Most of these people all ask China for publishing to the clearer material to the nine dash line (a vague drawing on a map without exact coordinate). Another one wrote: Who could give historical evidences that will be true. If not that will be wrong.

Sharing more about the absurdity of which China has continously preached, Chen also emphasized: Do we still say being bullied by a smaller country? But that as such know that they are not the opponent of China so why they still oppose China? I think because some areas in the South China Sea are under their sovereignty. The area is only 80 to 90km far from their coast however it is unfounded when we keep saying that belongs to China!

The above comments reflected that Chen is a very knowledgeable reader about situation in Vietnam and China as well as have a good command of geographic and that justice belongs to Vietnam. He dared say out China’s blunder of  illegal HD-981 rig placement in the area within Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

With deep understanding, Chen shown miscalculation by China in order to turn the other’s sovereignty into its.

Chinese people is just who show that systematical mistakes are the reasons why China changed its behavior in relations with neighboring countries. Standing at the position of a large country, in a few dozen recent years, China has been regarded as a partner to Southeast Asia and the world in investment, economic cooperation... After gaining this result, holding many advantages and asserting influence and economic position, China turned to the left face: Carry out policies to achieve dominance on the impact and pressure for smaller countries which aim at China’s strategic goals.

All can see clearly that evil intentions by Chinese authorities have added oil to the tensions in the South China Sea. It is very dangerous because China believe there would not be any corresponding reaction and then China would infringe with other actions. However, the reality has proved justice belongs to Vietnam and Vietnam are getting the support of international friends while China is unjust and gradually isolated .

The last one in the comment by the above Chinese guy that for solving problems in the South China Sea, two countries need to take into account each other’s interests. He also added: “From the angle of reality, history and future, I think China should negotiate with Vietnam to resolve the issue. That is the legitimate aspirations of Chinese people as well as Vietnamese people”.

China's current behaviour vis-à-vis its South China Sea neighbours is aggressive, arrogant and smacks of Han chauvinism and ethnocentrism. Far from being an expression of national pride, it is giving patriotism a bad name. Patriotic Hongkongers should recognise it for what it is: a dangerous ploy.

Not only has Beijing bared expansionist teeth to Vietnam and the Philippines, it has now succeeded in shifting Indonesia from a position of trying to act as a moderator between China and the other South China Sea states to opponent. Twice in recent months, Indonesia has accused China of claiming part of its Natuna island archipelago. So much for a "peaceful rise" when you rile neighbours with populations of more than 400 million, who you assume to be weak.

All China's sea claims are wrapped up in that nine-dash line which extends more than 1,000 nautical miles from the coasts of Guangdong and Hainan to close to Borneo, the island shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, and includes almost all the sea between Vietnam and the Philippines. This claim encompasses more than 90 per cent of the sea, even though China (including Taiwan) has only about 20 per cent of the coastline.

All this on the basis of claims to history that conveniently ignore the very existence of other peoples and their histories of seafaring and trading going back 2,000 years, and pre-dating China's ventures in the south sea and beyond. Indonesians got to Africa and colonised Madagascar more than 500 years before Zheng He. In turn, the peoples of Southeast Asia absorbed more from India and the Islamic world than China.

In the case of the current issue with Vietnam, brought about by China's movement of a drillship into waters due east of Danang, China has a small case, in that it does now own the Paracel Islands, which are closer to the drill location than to Vietnam. But the islands themselves have long been in dispute between the two, a matter settled for now by China's unprovoked invasion of them in 1974.

But as they have never had permanent settlement, they make a very weak case for enjoying a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone compared with Vietnam. History also tells us that this coast was the heart of the Cham mercantile state, which for 1,000 years was the leading player in regional trade.

There should surely anyway be a case for compromise between China and Vietnam. Malaysia and Thailand managed one over a gas-rich area between them in the Gulf of Thailand. Other regional states - Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia - have put island ownership issues to the International Court of Justice and accepted the result. But China remains unwilling either to compromise or submit to arbitration. Meanwhile, joint development is impossible because China makes it conditional on acceptance of its sovereignty.

In the case of shoals off the Philippines, China's case rests on a mix of invented history and the fact that it filed claims first, a poor basis given that it had no continuous presence there and the Philippines initially inherited a treaty between two Western colonial powers. These shoals and other features claimed by China are so obviously within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and in waters long sailed by the peoples of that country that there should be no argument.

Scarborough Shoal is about 200km from Luzon, 650km from China. The claim to Half Moon Shoal is even more outrageous. That is the reef where the Philippines arrested Chinese fishermen allegedly with a catch of giant turtles, a protected species. Knee-jerk protests have erupted from Beijing. The reef is 110km from Palawan, nearly 1,500km from China.

The fact that the absurd claims go back to the Kuomintang era is neither here nor there. Nor is the fact that previous states may have occasionally paid tribute to Beijing. For these trading states, tribute was a tax, the cost of doing business with China, which did not imply Chinese sovereignty. And if China occasionally acted as an imperial power in the region, that is surely cause for concern, not a basis for overlordship of a predominantly Malay sea. Otherwise, Turkey could claim Egypt and the Russians all of central Asia.

A revived China wants to flex its muscles and show who is boss in the region - just as it tried with Vietnam in 1979 - and remind the US of its own weakness. But there is also a basic reluctance to treat the non-Han neighbours as equals, people with their own history and cultures which, except for Vietnam, have never been subject to major Chinese influence.

China's history of assuming superiority, most especially over those with darker skins, is long. Belief in eugenics and the need to protect and enhance Han genetic characteristics was strong in the Republican era and found echoes in the opinions and social policies of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew. It has long been rejected in the West and was condemned under Mao Zedong . But it has been making a comeback on the mainland, where some academics find it hard to accept that modern man spread out of Africa and that China is thus not a separate and unique source of mankind.

Philip Bowring, South China Morning Post

Despite the objections of the government and people of Vietnam and the condemnation of the international community, Chinese ships and aircraft have continued to attack and intimidate Vietnamese vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Vietnam. As China has illegally deployed an oil rig in Vietnam’s waters since early this month, in addition to other similar violations in the past, we can file at least two lawsuits against China in international courts, a senior Vietnamese lawyer has said. Accordingly, the Vietnamese government can challenge the Chinese government to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, while the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) can sue the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) – which operates the drilling platform – to a civil court in Vietnam, lawyer Hoang Ngoc Giao, head of the Research Institute for Policy, Law, and Development said in a recent interview.

 By planting the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 (HD 981) in Vietnamese waters in the East Vietnam Sea, China has violated Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, and for this violation, We can sue China to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The tribunal was established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) to which China is a signatory.

Since China illegally placed an oil rig within the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone, Vietnamese forces and fishing vessels in the area have had to show great restraint in order to avoid escalation. The protective actions of the Vietnamese coast guard and fishing fleet have brought international attention to the fact that we intend to protect its territorial waters. For the sake of stability and safety in the region, we has chosen the path of dialogue. Our country's leadership has been very careful to pursue peaceful means of retaining and protecting its territory. Our government is preparing necessary filings to bring China to the International Arbitration Court if China does not withdraw its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.

 A lawsuit is crucial, it will show to the world China’s violation of international law and how Vietnam will deal with this. We should take advantage of this important communication strategy. It would also help ASEAN come up with new approaches to settling East Sea disputes.

Using international courts for solving the dispute is the best way for our country to protect its national sovereignty peacefully. This would also prove Vietnam’s respect for international law. We would be able to clearly prove its sovereignty over the East Sea. At the moment, We need the world community’s support. In this way, Vietnam will be able to achieve both justice and peace.

The world knows that China occupied Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands with violence 40 years ago, an act that violated the Charter of the United Nations. With the recent deployment of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig, China has openly violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, seriously violating international laws. We are totally eligible to sue China in accordance with the regulations of the 1982 UNCLOS.

Under the UNCLOS, coastal states like Vietnam are entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone from the base line. We has full legal and historical evidence to prove its sovereign right and jurisdiction over the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in compliance with regulations in the UNCLOS./.

The incident that drilling rig HD- 981 set up illegally by China in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam has made strata in our country and overseas compatriots downright indignant and closely keep track with the actual situation. Along with that, many peace marches, rallies and other activities were held to express patriotism, against serious violations of China to international law, the 1982 UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), directly threaten peace, stability  security and maritime safety in the South China Sea.

However, in order to create power from entire the nation to defend our sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and it also need to create unity and consensus of the entire Party, people and Vietnam army. Recently, due to the uniform awareness and actions on protecting the Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea and islands of a majority of people, some groups have taken wrongdoings which violated the law, not only affected efficiency of  the struggle but also created opportunities for hostile forces against Vietnam...

One of the reasons for this phenomenon is due to a lack of information among majority of people, yet unthorough understanding of the views, guidelines and solutions of our Party and Government in the struggle against China's wrongdoing. These days, the mass media has made ​​great efforts to provide our readers with timely measures to fight on the field of diplomacy, law, public opinion and enlist the support of peace-loving people in the world and China. However, the rapporteur, grassroots and propagandists have not yet fully played their role in supplying timely information, orienting and helping people especially rural and mountainous ones to understand the nature of the cese and our reactionas so that we can fight illegally and effectively in accordance with national and international laws.

We believe that there should be more abundant forms of media to help people thoroughly understand the struggle of our people to protect legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam and China’s misconduct as well as our policies to protect sovereignty, the environment of peace and stability of the country, the friendship between the two peoples of China and Vietnam. When having thorough understanding, people will act in the right ways and consistant with Government’s policies.

Promoting the power of the media, especially the efficient exploitation of communication channel through propaganda in the meetings at village or local so that it will help people realize unity and action. With the sound thoughts and actions, uanimity among strata of our country, we will fight effectively against China’s misconduct.

In the hot days on the East Sea, there is a silent but persistent and united force, fishermen. Fishermen are not alone on the East Sea.

Previously, there were times when fishermen were afraid of China for butting vessels and arresting for ransom. But since China deployed the oil rig HD981 in Vietnam’s Economic Exclusive Zone and continental shelf, those fears have turned flight. Fishermen sail with greater determination, not just fishing, but proving to the world that Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands belong to Vietnam. Fishermen boast that he was "living landmark" on the East Sea. Fishermen from Ly Son Island of Viet Nam's central coast are still casting their nets around the Hoang Sa archipelago, their traditional fishing ground, despite the presence of an illegal Chinese oil rig in the area. They want to prove to China that they are not afraid of any forces. Sticking to help protect sea island our fathers left, fishermen challenge any aggressions. China set up the rig with the aid of a large number of vessels, including warships, last weekend. Viet Nam has said the move seriously violates Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and its jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The act is also said to violate Viet Nam's sovereignty over its waters and threatens local fishermen's operations. "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.

Another fisherman, Le Binh, said fishermen would still operate in its traditional Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds to contribute to the nation's economic development and protect its sovereignty.

Despite China is a large country, the patriotism of Vietnamese people is invincible. When there is shadow of foreign invasion, Vietnamese People will be united more than ever.

Fishermen at sea follow the group shoulder-to-shoulder and always be ready to assist and protect each others when being attacked by Chinese ships.

"Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa is undeniable. We demand China respect this and withdraw all equipment and vessels from Viet Nam's exclusive economic zone," Nguyen Quoc Chinh, head of the An Hai communal Fisheries Trade Union, said.

There is one thing for sure that there is no lone fisherman on the East Sea. In recognition of brave and indomitable fishermen, President Truong Tan Sang has announced in recent days that Vietnam fishermen are still out coast, carry on fishing activities on the traditional fishing grounds and are normally protected by the Viet Nam Marine Police and the Fisheries Surveillance Force.

Behind fishermen are 90 millions Vietnamese people. The programs calling for supports to fishermen have drawn a large number of people in an effort to empower fishermen. Everyone is aware that the fishermen go out to sea is a symbol of patriotism.

Since the incident of the drilling rig HD981, the wave of patriotism has erupted. Young people consciously learn more about our territorial sovereignty of the sea and islands in the East Sea. And understanding that China’s move is illegal and a violation of international law.
90 millions Vietnamese people are accompanying fishermen to protect the country's sovereignty./.

                                 China's oil rig placed in Vietnam exclusive economic zone

China’s placement of the 981 oil rig in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam had infringed international law and outraged the peace and friendship- loving people of the two countries.

There is a saying in Vietnamese that “better to have a good neighbor near rather than a far away brother” and similarly Chinese people has a saying that to have a good neighbor costs much more than to buy a house. Obviously, the two countries have similar thought about neighbors.

The past had witnessed many Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers fighting side by side with their Chinese comrades. In 1949, though Vietnam’s revolution faced difficulties, President Ho Chi Minh still sent forces from the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) to cooperate with Guangxi’s communists in the campaign to suppress bandits in Shiwandashan, the region with literal meaning Ten thousands great mountains. In this campaign, the communists fought against Kuomintang remnants after the nationalist regime withdrew from mainland China.

In return, China sent many experts and advisors to assist Vietnam in its resistance war for national salvation. Blood and bone of the two countries’ cadres and troops in respective national liberation war had built up the Vietnam-China friendship.

This once again affirms that people of the two countries have a long-lasting close friendship fostered by their predecessors. Therefore, Vietnamese people have always wished to be friends of the Chinese people.

So far, leaders of the two Parties, two States and two Governments of Vietnam and China have issued many statements and reached a number of agreements with the aim of resolving pending issues, including those in the East Sea so as to further develop bilateral relationship and cooperation.

But, the China’s recent acts have made Vietnamese people find it difficult to understand, are shocked and indignant at China’s act of placing the 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and held acts in violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty and encroachment of the agreement on the fundamental principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea between Vietnam and China.

Not only the trust of people but the trust of senior leaders was also affected by the Chinese act. In fact, at almost all meetings over the past time, the two countries’ senior leaders always laid stress on political trust. Last October, in the fifth Vietnam-China People’s Forum in Vietnamese province of Ninh Binh, the two sides emphasized the need of building mutual trust. Actually, before China located its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, the two sides had done their utmost to build trust through a number of activities. The China’s recent acts have not only affected the mutual trust between Vietnamese and Chinese people but also hurted the two peoples’ friendship.

What China has been doing in the East Sea not only hurt the Vietnamese people’s sentiments, but also Chinese people who want to have peace and friendly ties with Vietnam. On Chinese social networks and online newspapers, many Chinese people with good sense wholeheartedly opposed China’s illegal placement of the oil rig in Vietnam’s waters.

Viet Nam has exercised utmost restraint, showed every gesture of goodwill and exhausted all dialogue channels to communicate with the Chinese authorities of different levels for expressing protest and demanding China to immediately withdraw its drilling rig and armed and military vessels from the Vietnamese waters. Nevertheless, up to now, China has failed to respond to Viet Nam’s legitimate demand. On the contrary, China has been slandering and blaming Viet Nam while continuing to escalate its increasingly dangerous and serious acts of violation.

Viet Nam always attaches special importance to and spares no effort to preserve and strengthen good friendly relations with China. It is always Viet Nam’s sincere desire to work with China for the settlement of disputes via peaceful means on the basis of international laws, equality and mutual respect in the interest of the two countries’ people and that of peace and stability in the region and the world. However, national territory is sacred, and Viet Nam vehemently denounces acts of infringement and will resolutely protect our national sovereignty and legitimate interests in conformity with the international law.

We want to maintain friendship with all nations over the world, especially our neighbors, to have a peaceful environment to develop our country and bring happiness to our people and international community. But trust cannot be built by one side! China you should remember that!

The fact that China illegally set up the drilling rig HD- 981 in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam continuously faces criticism from the international community. In an article dated May 19 on the South China Morning Post Newspaper, journalist Philip Bowring, an expert on commentary who is living and working in HongKong (China), asserted that Beijing's actions in the South China Sea destabilized the entire region.

In the article, Philip Bowring stressed that self-esteem and careful explaination have become a “toxic batch of wine” which increased tensions in the South China Sea. According to the author, the present action against China's neighbors in the South China Sea is a dangerous one. “The patriots in Hong Kong should realize that because it is a dangerous act”,  Philip Bowring emphasized.

It is also according to journalist Philip Bowring, Beijing not only revealed the intention to invade Vietnam and Philippines but now it also continues changing stance of Indonesia from a country as a mediator between China and other countries in the South China Sea to China’s rival. The evidence shown through two events in recent months when Indonesia accused China of claiming a part of their Natuna Islands.

Meanwhile, the website  Nationalinterest.org considered that move of illegally placing the drilling rig HD-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf not only destabilizes the entire region but also prevents China's capacity from restructuring its economy to maintain growth.

The website also analysed that Beijing is facing major challenges in countries such as environmental pollution, aging population and the terrorist activities in Tibet and Tianjin. In addition, China's economy has slowed down. However, the recent actions of China has been destabilizing the region and hampered the sustainable development of the country.

“In respond to the actions by China, the ASEAN countries have come together to build armed forced to protect sovereignty”, the information was stressed on Nationalinterest.org.

Nationalinterest.org said that the best thing now to improve China’s position is to figure out a new way to develop in accordance with the core principles of diplomacy, which is cooperation for mutual benefit and respecting the interests of other countries as well as resolving tensions over the South China Sea by peaceful means.

It can see clearly that in the peaceful demonstrations protesting China’s violation there are many foreigners who love Vietnam. Most of them have said that the drilling rig HD-981 placed illegally by China is a “dangerous” act and it do not bring any good thing to the people of both countries Vietnam and China.

Mr. Roberto Tofani from Italia affirmed that unilateral act taken by China in the South China Sea within exclusive economic zone of Vietnam is “provocative” and bad faith. He added that although the two countries have also pledged to resolve tensions by peaceful and cooperative ways but in fact China did not do so.

Ms. Merle Ratner, an American social activist for peace said that China invaded and put the rig down in the waters of Vietnam had violated international law. Moreover, China's actions threaten peace and stability in the region . She M.Rat container affirmed its support for Vietnam Vietnam always wants peace and is committed to resolving disputes by peaceful means.

At the same point of view, Mr. Taku Nishimae, a Japanese freelance cinematographer living in New York (USA) announced the Japanese people and the Americans are in favor of Vietnam.