Prof. Dr. Vu Van Hien, deputy head of the Party Central Committee'sTheory Council, outlined his vision of China’s illegal acts that haveresulted in the escalation of tensions in the East Sea in a recentinterview granted to a Japanese reporter, according to radio The Voiceof Vietnam (VOV).
In the interview, Hien stated the councilanticipated that sooner or later China would seek to monopolise the EastSea and realise its dream of becoming a "greater China" at sea throughthe use of aggressive and illegal actions against Vietnam and itsneighbours.
Vietnam and neighbouring countries have always beencognisant of this deep-seated intention by China. Therefore, conflict inthe East Sea was inevitable as it is part and parcel of China’spolicies and orientations, Hien said.
In 2011 and 2012, China cutcables of Vietnamese oil exploration ships and Vietnam at the timeavailed itself of all diplomatic measures at its disposal to demandChina immediately stop those illegal activities.
However, theChinese side did not stop there but devised a scheme to illegallymonopolise the East Sea by putting the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig insideVietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf from thebeginning of May, thus escalating the tension in the East Sea.
Hienemphasised that the Party and Government of Vietnam have always had thestrong desires to stand united with all the nations in the world,especially China - a large neighbouring country.
Although thetwo countries have historically experienced a number of upheavals,Vietnam has always held the friendship in high regard and consistentlytaken measures to create a perfect harmony and an atmosphere of peacefulfriendly cooperation between the two nations.
Regarding theillegal stationing of the oil rig by China in Vietnam’s waters, the viewof the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is that the country shouldstand resolute in its defence of national territorial sovereignty andfight to the end to defend the sovereignty.
However, the countrywould always stand prepared to resolve the situation in a peacefulmanner, resulting in a positive and prosperous development for theregion as a whole.
Hien also said the histories of Vietnam andthe world had a lot of evidence clearly showing Hoang Sa (Paracel) andTruong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes belong to Vietnam.
From the Handynasty (in 203-220 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) of China, therewere not any documents demonstrating the sovereignty over the twoarchipelagoes rightfully belong to China.
World Atlas of PhilipVantermanden published in 1927 in Europe also specified Hoang Sa andTruong Sa belong to Vietnam. Also, this map clearly indicated thelocation of China's southernmost tip was Hainan Island.
A mapdrawn by Jodocus Hondius in 1613 shows Hoang Sa archipelago, includingall Vietnam's islands from the southern part of the Tonkin Gulf to thesouthern coast of Vietnam, except Pulo Condor (Con Dao) and Pulo Cici(Phu Quoc Island) which were plotted separately.
At the SanFrancisco conference in the US in September 1951 discussing territorialissues after World War II, 46 out of the 51 countries voted for Vietnam,recognising the country’s sovereignty over the two archipelagoes.
Hienconfirmed China used force to invade the eastern part of Vietnam’sHoang Sa archipelago in 1956 after it signed a peace agreement on theIndochina Peninsula.
In 1974, China once again used forceoccupying the western part of the archipelago. More seriously, in 1988,China again sent troops invading various rocks and islets that belong toVietnam.
In recent years, China has continuously escalatedencroachment activities in the East Sea- making its official claim tothe “nine-dash” line (May 2009), cutting the cables of Vietnamese shipsBinh Minh 2 and Viking 2 (May/June 2011), establishing the so-called"Sansha City" (June 2012), unilaterally issuing a fishing ban in theEast Sea every year and taking enforcement measures on Fisheries Law ofHainan Province (effective from January 2014).
In addition, Chinahas organised patrols and military exercises in the East Sea to flauntits power as a deterrence to other claimants, intensified activitiespertaining to oil and gas exploration, archaeology and tourismdevelopment, strengthened occupied bases, chased and attacked Vietnamesefishing vessels in a blatant manner in defiance of public opinion andinternational law.
Besides, China also claims an "absolute right" to establish an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the East Sea.
In2013, China increased its defence budget with a focus on boosting thenavy. China also constantly reinforced institutions in the so-called"Sansha” and set up a radio and TV station there.
Thus, illegalactions taken by China in the recent past were the result of deliberateand careful calculations designed to implement a long-termconspiratorial agenda to monopolise the East Sea.
At its 18thCongress, the Communist Party of China identified strategies to developChina into a "sea power". To reach this goal, China adopted a series ofpolicies to strengthen the “practical management” in the East Sea.
Thepolicies included publishing two Defence White Papers entitled “TheDiversified Employment of China's Armed Forces” and "Diplomatic WhiteBook 2013” in which for the first time a separate section was devoted to"protect maritime rights and interests of China". These documentsemphasised protecting core national interests and affirmed the importanttask of the Chinese army is to protect maritime rights and interests.
Notably,China decided to establish the National Security Committee to directisland security work, consolidate island management agencies, reform lawenforcement forces at sea, aiming to broaden the scope of theiractivities.
The State Oceanic Administration of China also established an “island research centre”.
AfterChina’s plot to monopolise the East Sea is studied, its ambitionsbecomes clear: It wants to gradually legalise a "U-shape" maritimeboundary claim by applying tricks in all fields -communications, legalmeans, diplomacy and economics, using of force and causing localconflicts to turn nothing into something, undisputed into disputedwaters, tapping natural resources located in the exclusive economic zoneand continental shelf of the East Sea littoral states.
Sincethen, the East Sea will be considered as their home pond, clearing theway to the ocean to turn itself into a sea superpower that controls theinternational sea lifeline through the East Sea and the naturalresources of the East Sea.
“Vietnam is a peace-loving nation thatalways wants to keep peace with China. Vietnam also thanks the goodwillstatements by neighbouring countries, Japan and the US that condemnChina’s misconduct and ethical violations of international law inVietnam’s exclusive economic zone,” Hien said.
“The countrystates that security interests in the East Sea are not only of its ownbut of the whole region and the world including the US and Japan. The USand Japan’s deep concern over this matter is entirely plausible and isalso suggestive for a better future in the East Sea,” Hien concluded.-VNA
In the interview, Hien stated the councilanticipated that sooner or later China would seek to monopolise the EastSea and realise its dream of becoming a "greater China" at sea throughthe use of aggressive and illegal actions against Vietnam and itsneighbours.
Vietnam and neighbouring countries have always beencognisant of this deep-seated intention by China. Therefore, conflict inthe East Sea was inevitable as it is part and parcel of China’spolicies and orientations, Hien said.
In 2011 and 2012, China cutcables of Vietnamese oil exploration ships and Vietnam at the timeavailed itself of all diplomatic measures at its disposal to demandChina immediately stop those illegal activities.
However, theChinese side did not stop there but devised a scheme to illegallymonopolise the East Sea by putting the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig insideVietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf from thebeginning of May, thus escalating the tension in the East Sea.
Hienemphasised that the Party and Government of Vietnam have always had thestrong desires to stand united with all the nations in the world,especially China - a large neighbouring country.
Although thetwo countries have historically experienced a number of upheavals,Vietnam has always held the friendship in high regard and consistentlytaken measures to create a perfect harmony and an atmosphere of peacefulfriendly cooperation between the two nations.
Regarding theillegal stationing of the oil rig by China in Vietnam’s waters, the viewof the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is that the country shouldstand resolute in its defence of national territorial sovereignty andfight to the end to defend the sovereignty.
However, the countrywould always stand prepared to resolve the situation in a peacefulmanner, resulting in a positive and prosperous development for theregion as a whole.
Hien also said the histories of Vietnam andthe world had a lot of evidence clearly showing Hoang Sa (Paracel) andTruong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes belong to Vietnam.
From the Handynasty (in 203-220 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) of China, therewere not any documents demonstrating the sovereignty over the twoarchipelagoes rightfully belong to China.
World Atlas of PhilipVantermanden published in 1927 in Europe also specified Hoang Sa andTruong Sa belong to Vietnam. Also, this map clearly indicated thelocation of China's southernmost tip was Hainan Island.
A mapdrawn by Jodocus Hondius in 1613 shows Hoang Sa archipelago, includingall Vietnam's islands from the southern part of the Tonkin Gulf to thesouthern coast of Vietnam, except Pulo Condor (Con Dao) and Pulo Cici(Phu Quoc Island) which were plotted separately.
At the SanFrancisco conference in the US in September 1951 discussing territorialissues after World War II, 46 out of the 51 countries voted for Vietnam,recognising the country’s sovereignty over the two archipelagoes.
Hienconfirmed China used force to invade the eastern part of Vietnam’sHoang Sa archipelago in 1956 after it signed a peace agreement on theIndochina Peninsula.
In 1974, China once again used forceoccupying the western part of the archipelago. More seriously, in 1988,China again sent troops invading various rocks and islets that belong toVietnam.
In recent years, China has continuously escalatedencroachment activities in the East Sea- making its official claim tothe “nine-dash” line (May 2009), cutting the cables of Vietnamese shipsBinh Minh 2 and Viking 2 (May/June 2011), establishing the so-called"Sansha City" (June 2012), unilaterally issuing a fishing ban in theEast Sea every year and taking enforcement measures on Fisheries Law ofHainan Province (effective from January 2014).
In addition, Chinahas organised patrols and military exercises in the East Sea to flauntits power as a deterrence to other claimants, intensified activitiespertaining to oil and gas exploration, archaeology and tourismdevelopment, strengthened occupied bases, chased and attacked Vietnamesefishing vessels in a blatant manner in defiance of public opinion andinternational law.
Besides, China also claims an "absolute right" to establish an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the East Sea.
In2013, China increased its defence budget with a focus on boosting thenavy. China also constantly reinforced institutions in the so-called"Sansha” and set up a radio and TV station there.
Thus, illegalactions taken by China in the recent past were the result of deliberateand careful calculations designed to implement a long-termconspiratorial agenda to monopolise the East Sea.
At its 18thCongress, the Communist Party of China identified strategies to developChina into a "sea power". To reach this goal, China adopted a series ofpolicies to strengthen the “practical management” in the East Sea.
Thepolicies included publishing two Defence White Papers entitled “TheDiversified Employment of China's Armed Forces” and "Diplomatic WhiteBook 2013” in which for the first time a separate section was devoted to"protect maritime rights and interests of China". These documentsemphasised protecting core national interests and affirmed the importanttask of the Chinese army is to protect maritime rights and interests.
Notably,China decided to establish the National Security Committee to directisland security work, consolidate island management agencies, reform lawenforcement forces at sea, aiming to broaden the scope of theiractivities.
The State Oceanic Administration of China also established an “island research centre”.
AfterChina’s plot to monopolise the East Sea is studied, its ambitionsbecomes clear: It wants to gradually legalise a "U-shape" maritimeboundary claim by applying tricks in all fields -communications, legalmeans, diplomacy and economics, using of force and causing localconflicts to turn nothing into something, undisputed into disputedwaters, tapping natural resources located in the exclusive economic zoneand continental shelf of the East Sea littoral states.
Sincethen, the East Sea will be considered as their home pond, clearing theway to the ocean to turn itself into a sea superpower that controls theinternational sea lifeline through the East Sea and the naturalresources of the East Sea.
“Vietnam is a peace-loving nation thatalways wants to keep peace with China. Vietnam also thanks the goodwillstatements by neighbouring countries, Japan and the US that condemnChina’s misconduct and ethical violations of international law inVietnam’s exclusive economic zone,” Hien said.
“The countrystates that security interests in the East Sea are not only of its ownbut of the whole region and the world including the US and Japan. The USand Japan’s deep concern over this matter is entirely plausible and isalso suggestive for a better future in the East Sea,” Hien concluded.-VNA
