"An extremely dangerous legal invasion"

(Baonghean) -To clearly understand the nature of China's unreasonable actions and the trend of solving the "hot spot" issue of the East Sea in our country, Nghe An Newspaper reporter had an interview with Major General, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Van Cuong - Former Director of the Institute of Strategic Sciences of the Ministry of Public Security. The interview was conducted at the Nghe An Newspaper studio, the clip was edited and posted on Nghe An Electronic Newspaper (www.baonghean.vn); Nghe An Newspaper respectfully introduces it to readers.

Part I: Revelations and statements after 25 years of waiting!

Major General Le Van Cuong (right) participated in an interview with Nghe An Newspaper.

Reporter:Dear Major General Le Van Cuong, in the 2014 Nghe An Spring issue, you wrote an article predicting that in the near future, perhaps after 2020, Vietnam's national sovereignty may be violated by foreign countries. Now that prediction has come true. With the process of close monitoring and in-depth research, how do you assess the nature and intention of China when placing the Haiyang 981 drilling rig in the waters belonging to our country's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone?

Major General Le Van Cuong:China’s placement of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone was calculated and prepared many years ago. This is one of many actions to realize their so-called unreasonable sovereignty in Vietnam’s sovereign zone. They must monopolize the East Sea because they want to control the 10 ASEAN countries, and their ultimate goal is to push the US out of the Western Pacific. In the North, when they control the East Sea, they will also control Japan and South Korea – US allies.

There has been a big mistake in the world, with 80-90% of published research works claiming that China monopolizes the East Sea because of oil. This is not true. The East Sea has oil, but not much oil; the East Sea's oil is insignificant compared to the Middle East and Caspian Sea oil. China's ultimate goal in monopolizing the East Sea is because of the geopolitics and geostrategy of the East Sea. In China's strategic ambition to expand into the world, the East Sea is their only path: To the North, they are stuck with Russia; to the Northeast, they are blocked by the US-Japan-Korea alliance right at the front, unable to get out; to the Southwest, they are stuck with India, the Central Asia region - an extremely complicated religious, ethnic, terrorist region... The path to expand into the world to confront the US is mainly the path through the East Sea, to the Pacific Ocean.

Therefore, China's intention is to monopolize the East Sea by all means to eliminate the US from this region. When the US leaves this region, the entire ASEAN will be in the hands of China. In the North, Japan and South Korea will not be able to resist. I repeat, their deep intention is the geopolitics and geostrategy of the East Sea - the knot of the 21st century. Therefore, China's act of moving the drilling rig into the waters under Vietnam's sovereignty is a concrete action to gradually realize the desire to control and monopolize the East Sea, which is part of their long-term intention.

Reporter:What is your assessment of our recent struggle, and what do we need to do to continue the struggle and expose China's deceitful propaganda tricks?

Major General Le Van Cuong:In the last ten years, even from the 1979 Northern invasion war until now, China has been aggressive towards Vietnam every year. The most typical and the highest point was the war on March 14, 1988, when China mobilized a large naval force to occupy our four submerged islands in Truong Sa. The first time China set foot in Truong Sa was on March 14, 1988. In this 29-minute war, 64 heroic Vietnamese soldiers were sacrificed. Three Vietnamese warships sank two ships. From 1988 until now, they have been aggressive every year. Most recently, on May 26, 2011, they cut the cable of the Binh Minh 2 oil exploration ship in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, 128 nautical miles from Dai Lanh cape. On June 9, 2011, they cut the cable of the Viking 2 ship also in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone.

More seriously, in 2012, the Chinese State Council, headed by Premier Li Keqiang, issued a decision to establish Sansha City, including Vietnam's Truong Sa and Hoang Sa. This is a legal invasion. A country brazenly makes an administrative decision to annex another country's territory into its own territory, which is extremely serious. I think it is the most serious from the past to the present. So when, in 2050, 2100, 2200... will the 10th, 15th, 20th Chinese premier issue an administrative decision to cancel the administrative decision signed by current Premier Li Keqiang on June 22, 2012 on the establishment of Sansha City. This is an extremely dangerous legal invasion. But our reaction is insignificant.

But this time, I think Vietnam's response is very clear, coherent, and resolute, as shown in Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's statements in Manila and Myanmar. I think Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's statements in Manila and Myanmar are a new message expressing Vietnam's clear, resolute, and coherent attitude toward China's aggressive actions. I have been waiting for this for 25 years. It has been a quarter of a century since we had such a clear, coherent voice.

This is what created the consensus of Vietnamese people at home and abroad, together with the international community, to strongly oppose China's actions. Never before has the international community, in such a short time, spoken out so strongly and promptly, supporting Vietnam and opposing China. The United States, from Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, famous Senator John Mackel, even President Obama spoke out in support of Vietnam. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, India, the European Union (EU)... The whole world spoke out against China and supported Vietnam. When we stand firm, resolutely protect our independence and sovereignty, resolutely oppose all acts of aggression, we will receive the support of the world community. If we are not resolute, the world will certainly not support us.

For the first time, our State has allowed the press to reflect and report on the situation. Many news and images have been published, updated fully, accurately and objectively about the developments in the East Sea, including China's actions of using force, using high-powered ships to ram Vietnamese coast guard ships, fishing boats, etc. This has helped all people in the country as well as the international community clearly recognize China's aggressive, belligerent and aggressive nature. It has been a long time since 90 million people in the country and 5 million Vietnamese people abroad have expressed their agreement with the Party and State leaders like today. Whenever our leaders are steadfast and have the right policies, we will certainly create consensus in society. And this is the most important condition to protect the integrity of the national territory, as Saint Tran Hung Dao said in the 13th century: The strategy to protect the country for a hundred years is to be of one mind above and below, brothers in harmony, and in times of peace, to ease the people's strength. Our attitude this time has created consensus in society, among party members, among the people, and the international community.

(To be continued)

PV(perform)