VietNamNet Bridge - Peaceful negotiation is the only way to resolve the dispute over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos (Paracel - Spratly Islands).

The UN Charter prohibits the threat to use force or use of force between countries. The United Nations has also defined that member states must solve disputes by peaceful means.

For the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa of Vietnam, China used force three times to occupy islands: the first time was in 1956 to seize the eastern part of Hoang Sa; the second time in 1974 to occupy the entire archipelago; and the third time in 1988 to seize some rocks and sandbanks of the Truong Sa Archipelago. This policy of China violated international law and was contrary to the trend in the world and in the region.

The UN Charter stipulates: "States have a duty not to use or threaten to use force to violate the existing international boundaries of another State or as measures to resolve international disputes, including territorial disputes and problems concerning frontiers of countries."

On the basis of international law, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam resolutely defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity while respecting the principles not to use force or threaten to use force to resolve conflicts, and consistently advocates settlement of disputes by peaceful negotiation, especially the dispute over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung recently stressed this policy of Vietnam in his speech at the National Assembly meeting: "Vietnam’s consistent stance is that the Hoang Sa Archipelago belongs to Vietnam's sovereignty. We have sufficient evidence and legal history to confirm this. But Vietnam advocates negotiation and peaceful means to settle claims over the Hoang Sa Archipelago.”

Our policy for the Truong Sa Archipelago is to seriously implement the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, seriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the bilateral agreements signed recently between Vietnam and China. We request the parties to maintain the status quo, and do not take actions that make the situation more complex, affecting peace and stability in this region."

Earlier, the joint statement on the official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stated: "Before settling the dispute in the sea, both sides together preserve peace and stability in the East Sea, keep calm and maintain restraint, not take actions that make the situation more complicated or extend the dispute, not let  the hostile forces sabotage relations between the two Parties and States, and handle problems with a constructive attitude".

Vietnam and China also signed an "agreement of basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues".

Peaceful settlement of disputes over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos is responsive to the aspirations of peace of the Vietnamese and Chinese people, in accordance with the principles of international law and the UN Charter, consistent with the interests of peace, stability and cooperation in Southeast Asia, Asia - Pacific and the entire world. That is the only right way.

As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has a huge obligation to respect and implement the UN Charter. Public opinion in Southeast Asia and around the world awaits a positive response from China.