During the 10^th session of the Da Nang People’s Council (PC) in its 8^th tenure, the Secretary of the city’s Party Committee, Mr Tran Tho, remarked that one of the session’s agenda items is to issue a resolution to express opposition to China’s illegal placement of the HD-981 oil drilling rig in Viet Nam’s territory waters.

Also at the event, the Chairman of the municipal Fatherland Front Committee, Mr Nguyen Manh Hung, said that over the past 2 months local voters have raised deep concerns about China’s illegal action of positioning the rig.  He added that China has dispatched a large fleet of vessels, including military ships and aircraft, to protect its rig illegally-positioned in Viet Nam’s waters.  Aggressive actions by the Chinese have caused damage to many Vietnamese coastguard and fisheries surveillance ships.  To make the situation worse, fishing boat DNa 90152 from Thanh Khe District was capsized by a Chinese steel-hulled ship on 26 May.  Local residents from all walks of life have expressed their strong indignation about China’s serious violation of Viet Nam’s legitimate sovereignty over its territorial waters.  Also, they have demanded that China withdraw its drilling rig from Viet Nam’s waters.

Chairman Hung addressing the event

Furthermore, Chairman Hung affirmed that the Hoang Sa archipelago is one of Da Nang’s administrative units, and it is part of the flesh and blood of Viet Nam.   Many local residents recently urged the city’s authorities to start the construction of the Hoang Sa Exhibition House as soon as possible, and  expand its current planned area of 685m2.  They hope that the Exhibition House will be put into use for local residents and visitors as quickly as possible.  Artifacts on display at the Exhibition House will be regarded as convincing evidence which strongly condemns the wrongful actions by the Chinese authorities.  In addition, special attention should be paid to further publicise the ongoing developments in the East Sea, as well as to uphold the spirit of ardent patriotism and national pride amongst local residents.