Conference on information and propaganda work on sea and islands

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of July 15, in Da Nang City, the Ministry of Information and Communications held a conference on information and propaganda work on Vietnam's seas and islands with the participation of leaders of press agencies, radio and television stations, and information and communication sectors of provinces and cities across the country. Comrades Truong Minh Tuan - Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Major General Nguyen Van Tuong - Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command, Le Quy Quynh - Director of the Sea Department - National Border Committee chaired the conference.

Overview of the conference.

Delegates attending the conference

In his opening speech, comrade Truong Minh Tuan pointed out the necessity of information and propaganda work on the sea and islands at present. Next, comrade Truong Minh Tuan presented the following topics: Current East Sea issues, information and propaganda work on Vietnam's sea and islands on mass media and grassroots information systems; Viewpoints and policies of the Party and State of Vietnam on sovereignty over seas and islands and resolving disputes in the East Sea.

Comrade Truong Minh Tuan delivered the opening speech at the conference.

Dr. Le Quy Quynh and Major General Nguyen Van Tuong (first and second from right) attend the conference

Regarding the incident of China illegally placing the Haiyang 981 drilling rig in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Deputy Minister Truong Minh Tuan provided more information about China's arrogant actions, disregarding public opinion, when it brought the Haiyang 981 drilling rig and more than 150 ships of various types to illegally enter Vietnam's waters; the reason why China illegally placed the HD 981 drilling rig in Vietnam's waters, the views of other countries on this event; the Chinese press published information with a spiteful attitude, distorting the truth to cover up its wrongdoings; the attitudes of countries in the region and the world, especially the US, towards this incident. Our measures of struggle have clearly demonstrated our determination and goodwill to peacefully resolve disagreements with China, which have been highly appreciated by world public opinion. Through this incident, domestic relations have become more united, and the Party, State and people have become more closely connected.

Delegates attending the conference.

The Deputy Minister requested that the Vietnamese press, in addition to fully reporting the latest situation and developments in the East Sea, should also publish events surrounding this issue. Vietnam's consistent stance is that China must withdraw its drilling rig from Vietnam's waters, protest China's violations of international law, and reject China's fabricated rhetoric...

Regarding our guiding viewpoints on handling the East Sea issue: First, resolutely fight by all means to maintain the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and integrity of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. Second, persistently fight to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for national construction and development. Maintain political stability at home. Third, maintain solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese people and people of other countries; between the people of Vietnam and China. Fourth, consolidate and strengthen the potential of national defense, security and related forces to manage the sea to firmly protect our sovereignty and sovereign rights in the East Sea; continue to consolidate historical evidence and legal basis to protect our sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

The Deputy Minister also oriented the content of information and propaganda in the coming time, which is to affirm Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights and legitimate interests at sea with reasonable, emotional and convincing arguments, objectively reflecting the situation in the East Sea, avoiding words that incite national hatred. Strengthening the direction and management of the press reporting on the East Sea issue; Promoting the propaganda of our consistent stance, viewpoints and policies on the East Sea issue. Developing propaganda documents, records, films and documents on the East Sea. With actions that violate Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and interests in the East Sea, it is necessary to have a form of public protest so that the public can clearly see our righteous actions, gain the sympathy and support of public opinion at home and abroad, and at the same time create a basis for future legal struggles. Strengthening articles refuting the bad arguments and points of view of the Chinese press. Strengthen propaganda about the sea and islands to overseas Vietnamese. Focus on foreign propaganda work on channels, routes, and key areas. Continue to thoroughly grasp the Party's viewpoints and resolutions on the Strategy for National Defense in the new situation, especially identifying targets and partners. Fight with public opinion and provide honest information so that the people and the international community can clearly understand China's violations as well as Vietnam's peaceful struggle measures; call on the international community to strongly condemn China's serious violations of international law.

Major General Nguyen Van Tuong presented on maritime security and law enforcement forces at sea.

In the afternoon, the conference listened to Major General Nguyen Van Tuong present on security issues related to the sea and islands (including traditional and non-traditional security), the threat of traditional and non-traditional security risks that affect national security and global security; the struggle of Vietnam's law enforcement agencies in the issue of protecting sovereignty over the sea and islands today, with 4 forces: coast guard, border guard, customs, and fisheries surveillance. Since May 2, 2014, in response to China's illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig in Vietnam's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, Vietnam's law enforcement forces, the Coast Guard and Fisheries Surveillance, have been present to fight, prevent and propagate, demanding that China withdraw the drilling rig and escort ships from Vietnam's waters.

During more than 2 months of carrying out the mission, facing China's threatening and aggressive actions, in difficult conditions, complex climate and weather at sea; long-term struggle... but our Coast Guard, Fisheries Surveillance Force and fishermen have fought fiercely with legal measures in the field.

Comrade Le Quy Quynh presented at the conference.

Next, comrade Le Quy Quynh presented the basic contents of the 1982 Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). He emphasized the issue of using terms and words. For example, we often use the word "territorial waters" to mean the sea area under Vietnam's sovereignty and interests, such as the case of the Haiyang 981 drilling rig placed in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which is the sea area 200 nautical miles from our coastal baseline. Meanwhile, "territorial waters" is only the sea area 12 nautical miles from the coast. So if we say that Haiyang 981 violates Vietnam's territorial waters, it is not because it is 120 nautical miles from Ly Son island. Or the Haiyang 981 drilling rig has the transliterated name Hai Yang Shi You 981, we should call it Hai Yang 981, or Hai Yang Shi You 981, or use its international abbreviation instead of HD-981. And he suggested that news agencies should disseminate the correct terms and words, along with explanations so that when our people speak up to protect territorial sovereignty, they can speak correctly, write correctly and more effectively.

Displaying documents and books on sea and island sovereignty at the conference.

Video clip of the conference:

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Right Army