Safeguarding national sovereignty is a sacred mission requiring all to actively and resolutely fight every violation of the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

The leader made the statement while chairing the Government’s special session on law building in Ha Noi on July 16, during which he was updated on the latest developments of China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Viet Nam’s waters.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (Photo: VNA)

According to leading officials from the Ministries of Defence, Public Security and Foreign Affairs, on the evening of July 15, China moved the rig toward its Hainan island and got the rig and escort ships out of Viet Nam’s waters in the morning of the following day.

On May 2, China illegally positioned the rig, escorted by a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, deep inside Viet Nam’s waters. Since then, Chinese ships had intentionally rammed and fired water cannons at Vietnamese vessels, injuring many Vietnamese officers, sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat and threatening the lives of Vietnamese fishermen.

China’s acts had seriously infringed Viet Nam’s sovereign right and jurisdiction, violating international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, as well as agreements reached by the two countries’ high-level leaders, and threatening peace, stability, security, and maritime and aviation freedom and safety in the region.

PM Dung demanded China not to conduct the placement of an oil rig as well as violations of Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction again, saying that Vietnam is always determined to safeguard its sovereignty with combined power and by peaceful measures in line with international law.

Viet Nam always attaches special importance to the friendship and fine cooperation with China on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefit and joint development, he said, adding the country is willing to, together with China and parties involved, hold peaceful negotiations and settle disputes at sea in accordance with international law, Dung said.

The leader praised Viet Nam’s law enforcement forces, fishermen and people at home and abroad for their resolve in this fight.

Viet Nam is grateful and wishes to continue receiving the support from the international community for the country’s just stance, he added.

(Source: VNA)