An international conference themed “Hoang Sa-Truong Sa: HistoricalTruth” was held in the central city of Da Nang on June 20, drawing theparticipation of nearly 100 leading Vietnamese and foreign researchersfrom various countries, including the US, Russia, France, India, Japanand the Philippines.
Opening the event, AssociateProfessor Doctor Pham Dang Phuoc, rector of Pham Van Dong University –one of the organisers – said the conference takes place in the contextof escalating tension in the East Sea after China illegally positioned adrilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continentalshelf.
China ’s move seriously violatesVietnam ’s sovereign right and jurisdiction, aiming to realise itsgroundless and ambitious “nine-dash line” claim, he said.
The act is a new escalation by China in infringing international law,particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(1982 UNCLOS), changing the status quo in the East Sea and going againstthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
Participants at the conference focused on analysing the nature of thedispute concerning Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly)archipelagoes, with various speeches, including those highlighting therole of international law in promoting cooperation, the scheme thatChina used to occupy Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, and the past,present and future of the “nine-dash line”.
Professor Carlyle A. Thayer, a former lecturer of the Australian DefenceForce Academy and a specialist in Vietnam and Southeast Asia studies,said looking back to the 17 th and 18 th centuries, it is clear thatVietnam has remarkable evidence proving its claim over Hoang Saarchipelago.
In the 17 th century, the Nguyen lordsrecruited sailors for 5-18 boats, forming the Hoang Sa Flotillaoperating about five months at sea for each voyage to conduct catchingactivities, draw maps and survey and fish out goods from sunken shipsthere, he noted. Subsequent Nguyen Kings maintained the flotilla.
King Gia Long (1762-1820) officially possessed the archipelago in1816. Gia Long’s successor, King Minh Mang, continued the activities ofsurveying and drawing maps in the area, built a temple there in 1835 andplanted a stone stele carved with sovereignty claim of An Nam Kingdom,noted Professor Thayer.
The final declaration of the1954 Geneva Conference temporarily separated Vietnam into northern andsouthern parts along the 17 th latitude. Hoang Sa was then put underthe management of the southern government of the Republic of Vietnam. In1956, the Republic of Vietnam protested the Chinese occupation of AnVinh islands and supplanted the French forces in Hoang Sa the same year,he said.
He also affirmed that the argument thatthe Democratic Republic of Vietnam recognised China’s sovereignty overHoang Sa archipelago in 1958 is totally wrong.
Infact, the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s diplomatic letter did notmention territorial and sovereignty issues relating to Hoang Sa andTruong Sa archipelagoes. It only acknowledged and approved China’sexpansion of its territorial sea to 12 nautical miles and at the sametime instructed Vietnamese agencies to respect the 12-nautical-milelimit declared by China, said Thayer.
He also heldthat the current dispute in areas around Hoang Sa must be settled on thebasis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
Thayer also stated that China’s claims of “undisputable sovereignty”in the East Sea actually amounts to an invasion, and its use ofbattleships and aircraft in the area is a major obstruction to themanagement of common values in the East Sea.
Meanwhile, Patrick M. Cronin from the Centre for a New American Security(CNAS) asserted that China is becoming more authoritarian with itsclaims in the East Sea.
Pictures taken in Marchshowed that China has been conducting construction in Gac Ma Islandwhich belongs to Truong Sa archipelago, where Vietnam and China foughtin March 1988.
At the beginning of May, China evenpositioned its drilling rig deep inside Vietnam ’s exclusive economiczone and continental shelf, he noted, adding that Chinese ships alsorammed Vietnam ’s coast guard vessels.
Theseactions clearly showed China’s perverse attitude in the East Sea as partof its carefully calculated wider plot, stated Cronin.
The US supports international law and opposes any attempts to solve disputes through force, he said.
Professor Jerome A. Cohen, President of the US-Asia Law Institute ofthe New York Law University, said China’s efforts to prevent theengagement of international mechanisms is creating conditions forneighbouring countries to unite, strengthen their defence cooperationand seek greater support from world powers.
China’smoves have caused escalating and dangerous tension in the region, hesaid, concluding that Beijing should reconsider its hostility andinstead listen to the judgment of fair arbitrating institutions.-VNA
Opening the event, AssociateProfessor Doctor Pham Dang Phuoc, rector of Pham Van Dong University –one of the organisers – said the conference takes place in the contextof escalating tension in the East Sea after China illegally positioned adrilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continentalshelf.
China ’s move seriously violatesVietnam ’s sovereign right and jurisdiction, aiming to realise itsgroundless and ambitious “nine-dash line” claim, he said.
The act is a new escalation by China in infringing international law,particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(1982 UNCLOS), changing the status quo in the East Sea and going againstthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
Participants at the conference focused on analysing the nature of thedispute concerning Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly)archipelagoes, with various speeches, including those highlighting therole of international law in promoting cooperation, the scheme thatChina used to occupy Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, and the past,present and future of the “nine-dash line”.
Professor Carlyle A. Thayer, a former lecturer of the Australian DefenceForce Academy and a specialist in Vietnam and Southeast Asia studies,said looking back to the 17 th and 18 th centuries, it is clear thatVietnam has remarkable evidence proving its claim over Hoang Saarchipelago.
In the 17 th century, the Nguyen lordsrecruited sailors for 5-18 boats, forming the Hoang Sa Flotillaoperating about five months at sea for each voyage to conduct catchingactivities, draw maps and survey and fish out goods from sunken shipsthere, he noted. Subsequent Nguyen Kings maintained the flotilla.
King Gia Long (1762-1820) officially possessed the archipelago in1816. Gia Long’s successor, King Minh Mang, continued the activities ofsurveying and drawing maps in the area, built a temple there in 1835 andplanted a stone stele carved with sovereignty claim of An Nam Kingdom,noted Professor Thayer.
The final declaration of the1954 Geneva Conference temporarily separated Vietnam into northern andsouthern parts along the 17 th latitude. Hoang Sa was then put underthe management of the southern government of the Republic of Vietnam. In1956, the Republic of Vietnam protested the Chinese occupation of AnVinh islands and supplanted the French forces in Hoang Sa the same year,he said.
He also affirmed that the argument thatthe Democratic Republic of Vietnam recognised China’s sovereignty overHoang Sa archipelago in 1958 is totally wrong.
Infact, the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s diplomatic letter did notmention territorial and sovereignty issues relating to Hoang Sa andTruong Sa archipelagoes. It only acknowledged and approved China’sexpansion of its territorial sea to 12 nautical miles and at the sametime instructed Vietnamese agencies to respect the 12-nautical-milelimit declared by China, said Thayer.
He also heldthat the current dispute in areas around Hoang Sa must be settled on thebasis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
Thayer also stated that China’s claims of “undisputable sovereignty”in the East Sea actually amounts to an invasion, and its use ofbattleships and aircraft in the area is a major obstruction to themanagement of common values in the East Sea.
Meanwhile, Patrick M. Cronin from the Centre for a New American Security(CNAS) asserted that China is becoming more authoritarian with itsclaims in the East Sea.
Pictures taken in Marchshowed that China has been conducting construction in Gac Ma Islandwhich belongs to Truong Sa archipelago, where Vietnam and China foughtin March 1988.
At the beginning of May, China evenpositioned its drilling rig deep inside Vietnam ’s exclusive economiczone and continental shelf, he noted, adding that Chinese ships alsorammed Vietnam ’s coast guard vessels.
Theseactions clearly showed China’s perverse attitude in the East Sea as partof its carefully calculated wider plot, stated Cronin.
The US supports international law and opposes any attempts to solve disputes through force, he said.
Professor Jerome A. Cohen, President of the US-Asia Law Institute ofthe New York Law University, said China’s efforts to prevent theengagement of international mechanisms is creating conditions forneighbouring countries to unite, strengthen their defence cooperationand seek greater support from world powers.
China’smoves have caused escalating and dangerous tension in the region, hesaid, concluding that Beijing should reconsider its hostility andinstead listen to the judgment of fair arbitrating institutions.-VNA
