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Photo for illustration (Source: Internet) |
Vietnamese Students Association in France (UEVF) on May 10 issued a statement calling for Vietnamese students living and studying in France to unite to turn their hearts to the East Sea to strongly condemn China’s infringement of Vietnam’s sovereignty and to request China to immediately withdraw the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig from the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam.
The statement reiterated the process of China’s illegal placement of the oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and 120 nautical miles far away from Ly Son island. China has also mobilized 80 ships of all kinds, including seven military ships, many freighters and fishing vessels, and dozens of aircraft to the region, brutally violating Vietnam’s sovereignty.
The statement clarified that China’s escalating actions are in full contravention of the international law and a severe violation of Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty.
“It is an undeniable act of invasion”, the statement said.
China’s dangerous and frenzied act is a carefully calculated plot aiming to occupy the East Sea, which seriously violates sovereign right and jurisdiction of Vietnam as prescribed in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it said.
The move also heavily infringes the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties at the East Sea as well as other relevant agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders, escalating tensions, igniting violation, causing difficulties for sea-related sovereignty dispute negotiations, threatening peace, maritime safety, security and freedom of navigation at the East Sea, and harming peace and stability in the region and the world, said the statement.
The statement called on Vietnamese students living and studying in France, with the patriotism and enthusiasm of youth, to resolutely oppose and strongly condemn China’s aggressive actions. To request China to immediately withdraw the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig and escort ships, equipment and personnel out of the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty for Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos, and the sovereign right and jurisdiction of Vietnam over Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
According to Mr. Ta Minh Tri, Chairman of UEVF, UEVF consists of 23 members, gathering 7,500 students living and learning across France. Since May 2nd, the young people and students have communicated on the Internet with each other about China illegally placing the oil rig in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam. The young Vietnamese and students in France are indignant about China’s unruly actions, which disregard the international law.
The statement of UEVF is posted on its webpage and Facebook site to provide the Vietnamese students in France with the official information about the developments of China’s invasion. It also calls upon the Vietnamese young people, students and community in France to uphold the spirit of solidarity, actively seeking information from trusted sources in order to pass on objective, truthful and accurate information to their friends and the Vietnamese community in France, international friends and community about the just struggle to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty./.