The Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Japan held a requiem at Nisshikutsu pagoda in Tokyo on March 4 to pray for the soldiers who died to defend Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago three decades ago.

The requiem at Nisshikutsu pagoda in Tokyo on March 4 prays for the soldiers who died to defend Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef of Vietnam

The event was attended by Buddhist monks and followers, Japanese historians, representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and Vietnamese people and foreigners in the country.

In her speech, nun Thich Tam Tri, head of the Vietnamese Buddhist followers’ association in Japan, highlighted the heroic sacrifice of the 64 Vietnamese soldiers in the battle on March 14, 1988.

She underlined Vietnamese people’s gratitude to the soldiers, whose sacrifice was a heavy loss but also encourages today’s soldiers to be more determined in protecting the country’s sovereignty.

After the eulogy, participants lit candles and prayed for the martyrs.

Chairman of the Vietnamese People Association in Japan Tran Ngoc Phuc said the Gac Ma incident 30 years ago is a driving force for generations of Vietnamese people to develop and protect the country.

Expressing her gratitude, deputy head of the Vietnamese Youth and Students Association in Japan Tran Thi Thuy said the soldiers’ sacrifice helped give a peaceful life to young generations.

As part of the requiem, an exhibition was held, displaying copies of old documents testifying to Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagoes, along with photos of China’s recent violations of Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty.-VNA