Hoang Sa district head protests against China's illegal acts

The Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoang Sa district of the central city of Da Nang on January 8 protested against China’s illegal activities in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, as well as in the East Sea.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoang Sa district Vo Cong Chanh

Chairman Vo Cong Chanh demanded that China stop all such illegal activities to maintain peace, friendship, and co-operation between the two countries in the region.

The official raised the objection after China’s Hainan provincial administration announced on January 6 that it will establish four people’s armed forces departments in the so-called Sansha city, which is in fact in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, and will continue drilling on Phu Lam Island in Hoang Sa.

Vo Cong Chanh reiterated that Hoang Sa archipelago belongs to Vietnam, noting that China used force to occupy the archipelago on January 19, 1974. He stressed that since then, all activities conducted by China in the archipelago have been illegal, violating Vietnam’s sovereignty, and opposing international law, especially in regards to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China’s unilateral acts in Hoang Sa archipelago and the East Sea over recent times are posing serious threats to the security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters and maritime interests of countries around the world, the official noted, adding that such acts are a menace to regional friendship, peace, stability, and development in the region.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)