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>> East Sea issues put in regional spotlight
Vietnam will continue affirming its sovereignty over its islands and territorial waters in the East Sea.
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| Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung |
Paracel and Spratly islands, as well as waters off the coast of Vietnam have been an issue of contention between the country and China, despite the fact that United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea 1982 states that they belong to Vietnam.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made this intention clear on June 8, at a meeting to mark World Ocean Day and the Vietnam Sea and Islands Week 2011, held in the province of Khanh Hoa.
Dung said, "The Vietnamese have the strength and will to protect their territorial waters. We have been patient in dealing with disputes on the East Sea, and continue to look for peaceful means to do so. We abide by the UN\'s 1982 Convention on Law of the Sea, and strongly oppose any incursion into our established territory or any actions that threaten our legitimate interests."
He added a request that all parties concerned abide by pledges to solve these disputes peacefully, and in compliance with international laws. It is important to regional and global stability that both sides conform to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, signed between ASEAN and China, he said.
He also emphasised the need to finalise policies on sea, island and marine resource management for effective exploitation and to increase scientific research into natural resource management.
Dung added a call to the entire nation to raise awareness about marine environment issues.
More measures should be taken to protect Vietnamese fishing boats and other vessels involved in economic activity off the country\'s shores, Dung said.
He underlined the importance of these matters by stating that, over the past years, marine resources have greatly contributed to the country\'s economy, accounting for 48% of the GDP.
On May 26, three Chinese marine surveillance vessels approached an exploration area about 120 sea miles off the central Vietnamese coast, and about 340 sea miles from Hainan, the nearest Chinese island.
The Chinese ships cut the exploration cables of the Binh Minh 2 seismic survey ship belonging to PetroVietnam. The Vietnamese ship had to stop its work and return for repairs.
Nguyen Ba Dien, Director of the Centre for Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea, said, China’s aggression violates the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. He added that the Vietnamese Government could lodge a complaint against China to the UN Security Council and General Assembly.