Hundreds of Vietnamese nationals, students and international friends marched along the streets of the Swiss capital Bern, on June 21, opposing China’s escalating violations in the East Sea.

Converging on the Helvetiaplatz where demonstrations take place, a representative from the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Organisation, emphasised that Vietnam’s stance towards the peaceful settlement of the territorial dispute with China  has received mass support from  around the globe, while China is condemned for its unilaterally illegal acts.

He highlighted that China’s deployment of Haiyang Shiyou-981 and land reclamation for other constructions in the East Sea seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It gravely threatens peace and stability in the region and wider world, creating a dangerous precedent of behavior among nations.

Philippe Schneider, head of the Ministry of Defence’s projects, said China, one of the five members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), must take responsibility for keeping international peace and security. However, the recent happenings in the East Sea show China has failed to meet its international commitment.

Like other countries in the world, Vietnam desires peace and opposes the use of force and threat to use force to infringe upon a country’s sovereignty.

Friendship Associations with Vietnam in Germany, Denmark, France, Galicia in Portugal, Italy and Switzerland issued statements, requesting China to withdraw its drilling oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters.

VOV/VNN