On Thursday, Mr Truong Cong Dinh, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Da Nang Newspaper, played host to Ms Laura Johansen from the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Viet Nam.  Ms Johansen visited to learn more about Viet Nam’s international relations, especially the Bien Dong (East Sea)-related issue.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Dinh affirmed that Viet Nam had sufficient legal historical evidence to firmly prove its legitimate sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

Ms Johansen (right) and Deputy Editor-in-Chief Dinh

He remarked that Viet Nam resolutely rejects China’s illegal claim over the 2 archipelagos and other contiguous waters, as well as its “historical rights” to the waters, seabed and subsoil within the “nine-dash line” which China has unilaterally introduced.

He also noted that Viet Nam always wants to settle territorial disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international laws, equality and mutual respect in order to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world in general.

Mr Dinh emphasised that Viet Nam will never accept any compromise over its national sovereignty and legitimate interests in the Bien Dong.

In addition, he said he hoped that Ms Johansen, during her tenure, and the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Viet Nam as a whole, would raise their strong voices in protest against China’s serious infringement of Viet Nam’s sovereignty over its territorial waters, and strongly support Viet Nam’s righteous struggle for the historical truth that the 2 archipelagos are integral parts of Viet Nam’s national territory.