VN determined to safeguard sea and island sovereignty: PM

PM Dung on July 16 presided over the Government's thematic meeting on law building.

Leaders of the Ministries of National Defence and Foreign Affairs reported on the latest developments regarding China’s illegal rig placement in Viet Nam’s waters.

PM Dung underlined that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the fine friendship and cooperation with China on the basis of mutual equality, respect, benefit and development. 

Viet Nam stands ready to work with China and related sides to negotiate in a peaceful manner and resolve the issue in the East Sea in accordance with international law, he stated.

The Government chief also praised Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance forces, fishermen, and people in and outside the country for displaying a high sense of responsibility and determination to safeguard the nation’s sacred sovereignty.

Viet Nam, said PM Dung, treasures and hopes to continue to receive further support from the community for her just standpoint to strongly condemn actions which violate international law, and threaten regional peace as well as stability.

“Sovereignty protection is a sacred mission which requires us to regularly, continuously and resolutely combat infringements against the nation’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; unite with each other to fulfil socio-economic norms and strengthen national potentials in all fields,” concluded PM Dung.

On July 15, China’s oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981was moved toward China’s Hainan. As of early July 16, the oil rig and all escort ships got out of Viet Nam’s water areas.  

Since May 2, 2014, China illegally had dispatched the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deeply into Viet Nam’s territorial waters together with hundreds of escort ships, including military ships and aircraft.

The Chinese vessels aggressively fired high-power water cannons to damage a large number of Vietnamese ships and cause injuries to many of those on board. They especially took an inhuman behavior by sinking a Vietnamese fishing vessel.

Those actions seriously violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty rights and jurisdiction; international laws especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the agreements reached by high-ranking leaders of the two countries, and threatened regional peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation./.

By Huong Giang