VietNamNet Bridge – National Assembly (NA) deputies on May 26 raised strong opposition to China’s illegal installation of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations Tran Van Hang (Photo: VNA)

On the sidelines of the 13th NA’s seventh session, deputy Truong Trong Nghia from Ho Chi Minh City asserted that this is an illegal act and Vietnam has full legal foundations to affirm its sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago.

He urged international jurisdiction organisations, including the United Nations, to reject China’s sovereignty claim over this archipelago.

“China’s act violates the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as the area where it stationed the rig is totally within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” he said.

According to Nghia, the NA, as the highest representative body of the people, will implement a range of activities to firmly safeguard the national territorial sovereignty on the basis of international law, forcing China to withdraw its illegal rig, while maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Vietnam always wishes to preserve the traditional friendship between the two peoples, he noted.

The NA’s motto of action, reflecting the people’s will and aspirations, is in line with the real situation and is expected to bring in positive impacts, contributing to firmly defending Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction in the East Sea, he added.

According to Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations, Tran Van Hang, the complicated developments in the East Sea are threatening peace and stability in the region and China’s act is a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereign right.

The NA released its strong message, which represents the will and aspirations of voters nationwide and is in line with the Party and State’s guidelines and policies in the struggle for sovereignty protection.

The message has not only received support from voters and people in the country, but has also received support among world opinions, he said, adding that many nations have raised concerns about the tension in the East Sea sparked by China, and condemned its illegal act, considering it a provocative and dangerous move that threatens regional stability and peace.

Through Vietnamese embassies abroad, the NA should coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in helping countries’ parliaments understand clearly about the nature of the case, thus raising more voices against China’s violation of international law, he stated.

Source: Vietnam Plus