Vietnamese community in Australia looks towards homeland's sea and islands

The international student community in the state of New South Wales (Australia) on May 25 officially issued a statement protesting China's illegal deployment of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese community in Sydney protests against China. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The statement stated: “The Vietnamese student community in New South Wales (Australia) strongly opposes China’s violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty and jurisdiction in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf; requests China to act in a civilized manner and comply with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); requests China to withdraw the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig and escort vessels from Vietnam’s waters immediately and unconditionally. The statement also expressed support for the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to resolve and manage disputes by peaceful means, and to use all appropriate measures to protect Vietnam’s legitimate national rights and interests.

Also on the same day, hundreds of Vietnamese, representing the Vietnamese community living and working in Australia, gathered at Sydney City Hall to protest China's actions and call for peace in the East Sea. According to representatives of the Vietnamese community in Sydney, this gathering was peaceful and was permitted by the New South Wales Police Department and the Sydney City Council. Many students and overseas Vietnamese wore red shirts with yellow stars, held flags and raised banners demanding China withdraw the drilling rig from Vietnam, expressed in Vietnamese and English.

Speaking to a large number of Vietnamese and international friends present at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Quang Dai - Head of the meeting's organizing committee emphasized: "We must show the international community that the Vietnamese people are a peace-loving people, but can do everything to protect independence and freedom." Also attending the meeting were many international friends, who also love peace and are ready to fight for justice.

According to NDDT