Whenever March comes, people across Vietnam turn their hearts to Gac Ma Reef of Truong Sa archipelago, a sacred territorial part of the Fatherland, to pay tribute to officers and soldiers who heroically fought until their last breath for the country’s maritime sovereignty.
Whenever the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago is mentioned, many often think of rough seas and islands battered by tropical storms and fierce winds but also featuring coral reefs and various creatures and plants.
“The State of Vietnam was the first state in history to exercise its sovereignty over the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) since they were ownerless pieces of land, at least since the 17th century. Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence that has legal value to testify to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa,” an expert has said.
Over the last 40 years, the Military Hospital 175 has been delivering trusted healthcare services for not only soldiers on Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago but also islanders and fishermen working in the waters around the islands, said the hospital's Director Major General Nguyen Hong Son.
Vietnam supports the maintenance of peace and stability in the region, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and the principle of respect for the law on seas and oceans, in accordance with the provisions of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on February 4.
The annual music show “Truong Sa Spring”, the ninth of its kind, was held in Hanoi on January 23 to honour strong will and aspiration of officials and soldiers who are safeguarding sea and island sovereignty of the nation.
Physical exercise and sport playing is an indispensable part of the life of soldiers based on Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, helping them to improve their health conditions and easing their homesick.
The traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) has arrived early for soldiers and islanders on Truong Sa district as ships are crossing rough seas to carry Tet gifts and supplies from all parts of the country to the locality.
The Naval Zone 4 on January 10 held a send-off ceremony to dispatch soldiers to missions in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago and send delegations to offshore districts in Truong Sa archipelago to deliver Lunar New Year wishes to locals and soldiers on duty there.
A large number of farm products have been presented to soldiers and people stationed in the island district of Truong Sa (Spratly) by members of the business association of the Central Highlands’ Lam Dong province in the hope of bringing them a happier Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.
Truong Sa (Spratlys), a sacred land between the sea and sky, is not only a garrison where soldiers have protected the territorial waters of the country for centuries, it is also the homeland for many people, where many children are born, where love grows with the pride of being Vietnamese people.
Defence foreign policy has now become more critical than ever, as it plays an important role in creating a strategic enabling environment for both national defence and construction, especially in the maritime space.
The budget carrier Vietjet Air has been honoured among significant donors of the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and the fund’s “For the Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” club.
The Vietnamese people have left their footprints on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands since ancient times. Historical evidence proves the country’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos, especially through ancient bibliographies.
Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference on December 3.
The disputes in the East Sea (South China Sea) need to be resolved by the concerned parties, with cooperation of the international community as well as the region, said a Vietnamese expert.
Many international maritime routes pass through the East Sea, making it the world’s second-busiest shipping lane in terms of commercial activities, after the Mediterranean. The sea, however, has been threatened with potential instability from frequent piracy, while sovereignty disputes over islands are becoming more complex.
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