Do not accept concessions of sovereignty and sacred territory.

President Truong Tan Sang recently gave an interview to VNA about China's illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig deep into Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

President answers interview questions about China's illegal oil rig placement - Photo: VNA

In the face of domestic and international public opinion, many National Assembly deputies were upset about China's illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig deep into Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. VNA reporters interviewed President Truong Tan Sang about this issue.

PV:Mr. President, could you please tell us about the current situation of Vietnam-China relations when China placed the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig deep into Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf?

President Truong Tan Sang:On May 2, China illegally placed the Haiyang 981 drilling rig deep within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

China has unilaterally violated the two countries' high-level agreement on basic principles for resolving maritime issues, violated international law, including the United Nations Charter, as well as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the ASEAN-China agreements (DOC).

The Party, State and people of Vietnam always cherish and do their utmost to strengthen the friendship between the people of Vietnam and China, maintain peace and stability for national development, because our people have experienced decades of war, destruction and devastation; at the same time, they require China to do the same.

As I told voters in Ho Chi Minh City when this incident just happened, we do not accept anyone, any country, no matter how strong, forcing us to give up the sovereignty and sacred territory of the Fatherland.

Vietnam has full historical and legal evidence of its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos and Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, in accordance with international law.

We are determined not to let any inch of our Fatherland's land or sea be violated. For every Vietnamese, national territorial sovereignty is sacred and inviolable.

PV:Mr. Chairman, please tell us how the recent 9th Central Committee meeting expressed its attitude towards this event?

President Truong Tan Sang:The 9th session of the 11th Party Central Committee devoted adequate time to discussing this issue.

With a consistent stance, the Party Central Committee and the Politburo always affirm that the territorial sovereignty of the Fatherland, including Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, is sacred and uncompromising.

The Vietnamese people, our Party and State have enough courage, strong will and determination, as well as sufficient historical and legal basis to fight to protect the country's sovereignty.

It is unacceptable that a strong country does not respect morality and reason. Our people have experienced and been resilient in the struggles against invaders to protect the Fatherland for thousands of years.

In the recent incident, few countries and international organizations have spoken out in support of China's illegal placement of the Haiyang 981 drilling rig in Vietnam's waters as well as its unreasonable nine-dash line claim.

Historical and legal evidence shows that justice is on our side. The attitude of the international community is quite clear in this regard.

PV:How does the President evaluate the patriotism and the way our people express their patriotism in the face of China's illegal placement of the Haiyang 981 drilling rig in our country's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf?

President Truong Tan Sang:Our people have always had a tradition of ardent patriotism. Whenever our country's independence and sovereignty are threatened, our people always unite and stand up to protect the Fatherland.

I am deeply moved and appreciate the noble spirit of our compatriots and comrades. All are united in our hearts towards the East Sea.

The people who cling to the sea have been steadfast at the forefront despite constant pressure and threats from Chinese ships, and in some cases, even sunk. They still cling to their traditional fishing grounds, handed down from their ancestors for generations, and have never been subdued.

Vietnam's law enforcement forces do not retreat, courageously overcoming all challenges to carry out the task of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.

People across the country have expressed their patriotism in many diverse and creative ways. Our compatriots around the world have expressed strong attitudes, condemning China's illegal actions. We are determined to fight to protect our sovereignty by peaceful means, on the basis of international law.

However, we must be wary of provocative words and actions in the name of patriotism. When the country faces difficulties and challenges, it must unite even more. Division and provocation clearly do not help the country overcome challenges.

PV:People are very interested in the economic relationship between our country and China. Public opinion believes that Vietnam may have become economically dependent on China. Could you please give your opinion on this issue?

President Truong Tan Sang:Since implementing the Renovation policy, nearly 30 years ago, we have consistently implemented the policy of deep economic integration with the world, while building an independent and self-reliant economy.

Accordingly, our country has established trade and investment cooperation relations with over 200 countries and territories. We always follow the motto that Vietnam is a friend, a reliable and responsible partner to the international community, living in peace with all peoples in the world on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Diversifying and multilateralizing relations with other countries, we always strive to ensure mutual benefits and absolutely not depend on any country in both economics and politics.

Implementing such a foreign policy, in recent times, we have achieved very important achievements, the country is increasingly developing, the people's lives are increasingly improving. However, we must also frankly admit that some areas have not implemented this policy correctly, negatively affecting the economy.

With China, economic and trade relations have developed quite rapidly in recent years, but Vietnam's trade deficit has been growing and happening continuously, especially in input materials for production. Some of Vietnam's export products are too concentrated in the Chinese market.

In the field of EPC, BOT bidding and equipment supply in some important industries such as electricity, telecommunications and some other economic sectors, Chinese investors account for a large proportion, many projects have low technology quality, investment costs often increase compared to the original, completion time is prolonged... This situation needs to be rectified soon.

PV:Mr. President, our people are very interested in what policies and solutions the Party and State have and are having in response to China's Haiyang 981 drilling rig still brazenly operating illegally in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf?

President Truong Tan Sang:Immediately after China illegally placed the Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig deep into Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, the Party Central Committee and Politburo promptly proposed policies to handle the situation.

On the one hand, resolutely demand that China withdraw its drilling rig from Vietnam's waters, on the other hand, persistently maintain a peaceful environment for national construction; maintain friendly neighborly relations with the Chinese people on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Based on that policy, the functional agencies of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and the entire political system have taken action, conducting comprehensive diplomatic struggles both bilaterally and multilaterally; fighting to prevent on the ground with civil law enforcement forces; providing timely, regular and truthful information, making our people and international friends clearly understand the ongoing situation.

We always use peaceful measures, and at the same time request China to show goodwill to satisfactorily resolve the issue by peaceful means on the basis of international law and agreements between China-ASEAN and China-Vietnam.

Legal measures are also used when necessary to protect the sovereignty and territory of the Fatherland.

The struggle to protect independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity is long-term and arduous, requiring us to be determined, yet calm and persistent in order to be effective.

Our Party and State are implementing policies and solutions to meet the legitimate and earnest aspirations of more than 90 million of our compatriots.

I would like to repeat the words of King Le Thanh Tong once said to his courtiers, which were clearly recorded in Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu: “How can we abandon even one inch of our mountain and river? You must resolutely argue, and not let them gradually encroach. If they do not listen, you can still send an envoy to the North to clearly present the truth and the lies. If you dare to use one inch of our mountain and one inch of our land as bait for the enemy, then your crime will be punishable by death!”

According to VNA