A map featuring the illegal nine-dash line. The Import-Export Department, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has told local importers and firms to ask their partners to ensure their products do not feature the illegal nine-dash line map

Many serious incidents of imported products displaying the illegal line have negatively affected national security and the country’s sovereignty and have violated the prevailing regulations, the department noted.

The violators are being handled strictly by the State agencies in line with prevailing regulations, the local media reported, citing the department.

To prevent a recurrence and minimize the damage to firms, the department advised firms to review legal documents and contracts with foreign partners to ensure imported commodities do not feature the illegal nine-dash line.

In addition, firms were told to check all products prior to importing them or temporarily bringing them into the country.

As for commodities at high risk of containing the illicit nine-dash line, including textbooks, maps, globes and equipment, firms should ask sellers to provide commitment documents declaring that their products do not display the illegal nine-dash line or other misinformation.

Firms were ordered to report to authorities, such as customs agencies and market management authorities, in their provinces or cities if they find products bearing the illegal nine-dash line map or other illegal or incorrect images of Vietnam’s sea and island territory.

Earlier, as covered by the local media, some ecommerce platforms put up for sale many globes displaying the illegal nine-dash line.

In addition, at Vietnam Motor Show 2019 in HCMC, a Volkswagen car was found containing a navigation app that featured the illegal line.

Besides this, a map with the line also appeared in a Chinese school textbook at Hanoi University of Business and Technology and in some scenes from the movie “Abominable,” marketed in Vietnam as “Everest – The Little Yeti.”

Also, Vietnam Southern Power Corporation had earlier reported it had found inverters containing the nine-dash line map on the southern market after checking and reviewing all equipment, software and technical materials.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh admitted at a question-and-answer session during the ongoing sitting of the National Assembly that multiple products imported from China featuring the illegal line had entered Vietnam recently due to legal loopholes. He proposed the relevant ministries and departments enhance inspections on all products to avoid a recurrence. SGT

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