On March 3, 1925, the Governor General of Indochina issued a statement confirming that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam. Thus, even in the French-ruled period, Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos continued.

 President Truong Tan Sang has emphasized Vietnam’s determination to realise the target of not being dependent on any country at a meeting with HCM City’s Fatherland Front Committee and voters in HCM City on June 26.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many Chinese ancient documents show that China’s southeastern frontier ends at Hainan Island and Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge - The recent development in the East Sea has become especially dangerous as China’s absurd claims of sovereignty continue, despite international law and historical practice.

 The Party, State and people of Vietnam pursue a consistent policy of treasuring the friendship and cooperation with China , Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prior to 1909, Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes were administrative units of the Nguyen Dynasty, and were strictly organized and managed by the central government.

"Sovereignty must be peacefully established and exercised by the State, without dispute, absolutely not sovereignty seized by force," said Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc.

Tension has continued to escalate in the East Sea as China has maintained the presence of a large number of ships around the drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981, according to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency reporters, Dr. Ta Van Tai – lawyer, former lecturer and currently researcher at Harvard Law School – said there were two international legal arguments showing that China's explanation was absurd.

VietNamNet Bridge – China has been engaging increasingly in impudent behavior in recent days as it continues to argue in favor of its aggressive acts in the East Sea.

China on June 9 continued perverting international law by sending two more military ships to the area around rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 that is illegally placed in Vietnam’s waters.

They stayed about 8-10 nautical miles from where China’s oil rig is illegally standing, according to the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

About thirty European scholars attending a recent workshop in Norway refuted China’s groundless claim of the ‘nine-dash line’ or ‘U-shaped line’ in the East Sea, saying it cannot be used for sovereign negotiations.  

Vietnam on June 4 sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking China to strictly abide by international law, and immediately stop its violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A Chinese textbook published in 1912 shows that China’s southern border is Hainan Island, according to the Han Nom Research Institute.

With its dubious historic claims, China tried but failed to convince the world of its sovereignty over Vietnam’s Hoang Sa Archipelago. China is resorting to more unacceptable and hardball tactics. This article will shed light on China’s quibble.

VietNamNet Bridge – There is only one path for Vietnamese to follow: being steadfast, staying sober-minded, and mobilizing the whole nation’s intelligence to protect its peaceful life.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 130,000 people have signed an online petition asking the United States to impose sanctions on China for its illegal deployment of the HD-981 drilling rig in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – PM Nguyen Tan Dung last week made an unprecedented trip to the Philippines, where he brought the East Sea issues to the bilateral visit and the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014.

 Long time ago, the feudal state of Vietnam carried out policies to send people to Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes to affirm its national sovereignty, said the People's Army Newspaper online on May 22.