Beware of false and distorted arguments about the situation of seas and islands on cyberspace

Identify toxic information

Our country's sea and islands are a sacred part of our territory, an inseparable part of our flesh and blood, and play an extremely important role in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.protect sovereignty of sea and islandsof our country is being implemented by the Party, the State, the functional forces and the people with many solutions. However, on social networks such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, ... there are many organizations, associations, and opposition groups, of people calling themselves "journalists", "democrats", "patriotic citizens", ... providing bad, toxic information, false arguments, and distortions about the guidelines and policies of our Party and State on the issue of protecting sovereignty over seas and islands.

Exiled reactionary organizations such as: “Viet Tan”, “Provisional National Government of Vietnam”, “Trieu Dai Viet”, “Multi-party Democracy Assembly”, disguised domestic groups such as: “Lap Quyen Dan”, “Dien Xa Chi Chi”, “Tap Quoc Dan Viet”… Websites “Daily News”, “Bao Tieng Dan”, “Luat Khoa Tap Chi”, “Thoi Bao”, “Chan Troi Moi”; foreign newspapers: “BBC”, “RFA”, “VOA”, RFI” and social network accounts such as: “Thanh Hieu Bui”, “Nguyen Van Dai”, “Pham Chi Dung”,… have disseminated articles, documents, images, videos distorting the situation and complicated developments in the East Sea. Many sites have financial investment, have their own server systems, technical teams and security experts.

Taking advantage of the incident of the Chinese Haiyang 8 group of ships violating the Tu Chinh Shoal area in 2019, many websites posted edited, incorrect, and distorted news articles.

They took advantage of events such as: the incident of the Viking 02 and Binh Minh 02 ships of Vietnam having their cables cut in 2011 and 2012; China illegally placing the Haiyang 981 drilling rig in 2014; Formosa Company discharging waste into the marine environment in 2016; protesting the draft law on Special Economic Zones and the 2018 Law on Cyber ​​Security; the incident of the Chinese Haiyang 8 group illegally surveying the Tu Chinh shoal area in 2019,... to incite protests, cause riots and overthrow.

Opponents have written and posted many articles with distorted arguments such as:“The Vietnamese Party and State are weak and do not dare to use force”, “Vietnamese leaders remain silent during the tension at Tu Chinh Shoal with China”, “The Vietnamese Government always tries to silence the press”,… to call for protests, riots and overthrow. They take advantage of patriotism and national spirit toincite peoplecreating movements of “anti-China”, “quit China”, “pro-US”, “military alliance”… with major countries. They also put forward the argument of “demanding” political pluralism and multi-party opposition.

The target audience for their propaganda is those who regularly use social networks, but the focus is on disaffected elements and groups of "gullible" youth and students... From there, they hope to create an opposition force to our Party and State. Under the name of "fighting to protect sovereignty over seas and islands", overseas subjects collude with domestic subjects to seek to form and develop the so-called "civil society" along with illegal organizations, associations and groups.

Fight against false and distorted arguments

Faced with the plot to spread bad and toxic information with false and hostile viewpoints and arguments, we need to clearly identify and criticize.“The current argument is that to maintain independence and sovereignty over seas and islands, one must "resolutely oppose China", "anti-China", "boycott Chinese tourists", and "boycott Chinese goods".

Since China illegally placed the HD981 drilling rig in our country’s exclusive economic zone (2014) and after the serious environmental incident caused by Formosa Ha Tinh Company, some people playing the role of “intellectuals”, “scholars”, “patriots”, “journalists”, “democrats”, etc. have proposed that our Party change its political platform and foreign policy. That we must resolutely oppose China, boycott Chinese goods, and boycott Chinese people. These are extremely dangerous, malicious and wrong arguments and viewpoints.

Taking advantage of US Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to Vietnam on August 25, 2021, the terrorist organization "Viet Tan" posted many provocative and hostile articles on Facebook, causing division in the Vietnam-China-US relationship.

Vietnam and China are two neighboring countries, mountains connected to mountains, rivers connected to rivers, seas connected to seas, and have many similarities from culture, history to current political regimes. Although the relationship between the two countries has experienced many ups and downs, the friendship and good cooperation between the people of the two countries have been continuously nurtured over many generations. The "petitions" and "appeals" with the purpose of "anti-China", "escape from China"... posted on the internet and the vandalism, destruction of property, and disturbances caused by extremists in Binh Duong, Vung Ang (Ha Tinh) in 2014; in Binh Thuan in 2018... have tarnished the image of a peaceful and politically stable Vietnam. These are thoughts and actions that incite national hatred, and need to be fought to eliminate them.

The East Sea is an important part of the entire Vietnam-China relationship. Therefore, Vietnam's policy is always consistent. We condemn China's illegal encroachments, publicly and widely protest, and mobilize international public opinion and support from other countries. We are determined not to retreat, promote our "righteous" position, and at the same time, increase exchanges and actively engage in bilateral dialogue between the two Parties and two States.

Consequences of the incited protests in Binh Duong (2014) and Binh Thuan (2018). Photo: Thanh Nien Newspaper

To protect territorial sovereignty today, we must always be self-reliant, independent, self-reliant, “adapt to all changes”, combine national strength with the strength of the times based on international law, and cannot rely solely on a military alliance with a superpower. Therefore, the 2019 Vietnam Defense White Paper clearly stated the policy: “Not to join military alliances; not to ally with one country against another; not to allow foreign countries to set up military bases or use territory against other countries; not to use force or threaten to use force in international relations"⁽¹⁾.

The current disagreements and disputes in the East Sea are difficult, complicated, long-term issues that cannot be resolved overnight. It is not true that just because a major power “protects and shelters” allied countries will be able to maintain their territorial sovereignty.

The viewpoint of relying on other countries to protect sovereignty is also completely contrary to our nation's tradition of struggle. After more than 1,000 years of Chinese domination, then "defeating the Song, pacifying the Yuan, destroying the Ming, and destroying the Qing", defeating the most powerful colonialisms and imperialisms, Vietnam has entered world history as a nation that never submits, always wins with the motto of independence, self-reliance, and self-reliance. The history of the 20th century has proven that Vietnamese diplomacy creates a balance of interests among major countries and does not lean to one side. The building of international relations in recent times of our country shows that our country is building many partners to develop the economy - society, protect the integrity of the territory, and sovereignty of the sea and islands.

Two of many articles making false claims about the “East Sea issue” that have been published by foreign news sites for many years, such as RFI (May 2016) and BBC (March 2022).

Protecting Vietnam's sovereignty over its seas and islands is a very sacred issue, but also extremely difficult, complicated and long-term, and cannot be hasty or subjective. Hoang Sa and Truong Sa are always in the heart of every Vietnamese person. Consistently, Vietnam is determined and persistent in protecting its sovereignty, sovereign rights, national jurisdiction and national interests; persistently maintaining friendly relations with the Government and people of China, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development. Vietnam persistently advocates resolving disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

In the current situation, it is required that all levels and sectors improve the effectiveness of the work of grasping the situation, researching, forecasting, promptly detecting plots and tricks, especially new methods of operation of hostile forces in cyberspace, so that together with the people, they can refute and fight against "peaceful evolution" related to the situation of the sea and islands. At the same time, it is necessary to increase the provision of official information on the situation of the East Sea and protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands in a timely, accurate, objective and honest manner. Do not leave "psychological and emotional gaps" among cadres, party members and people for hostile forces to exploit and distort.

The 13th Party Congress documents determined:“Resolutely and persistently fight to firmly protect independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, sea, islands, and airspace; maintain a peaceful and stable environment for national development… Continue to promote the resolution of issues at sea, maritime and aviation security and safety on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”⁽²⁾.

References:

(1) According to"Vietnam firmly adheres to the "four no's" defense policy in international relations",2022, according to Voice of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper, at https://vov.vn/chinh-tri.

(2) Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2021, volume I, pages 67, 70.