"The National Assembly needs to pass a resolution on the South China Sea."

The National Assembly needs to issue a resolution in the name of the people to declare to the Chinese people and the people of the world Vietnam's righteous stance, condemning China's wrongdoing, Representative Truong Trong Nghia (Ho Chi Minh City) earnestly suggested at the discussion session on the draft Law on Citizen Identification, on the morning of June 19.

"I sincerely hope that the Party, the National Assembly, and the State leaders will consider and approve this proposal," he said.

Representative Truong Trong Nghia speaks with the press on the sidelines of the National Assembly, morning of June 19.

During the break, Representative Nghia spoke with the press about various issues related to his proposal.

If the National Assembly passes a resolution, what do you think the content of this document should be?

As I mentioned in my speech, the document needs to include a few points: firstly, the Vietnamese National Assembly must clearly state that we have a righteous stance on the Spratly and Paracel Islands because China has recently officially released to the world, including the United Nations, false information about its so-called sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands.

Therefore, we must also have an official response from the highest authority of the state.

Secondly, the resolution must condemn China's wrongful actions. The act of moving the oil rig into Vietnamese waters contradicts all commitments and declarations made to Vietnam and ASEAN countries. They demonstrate their intention not to abandon their absurd scheme to realize the nine-dash line and their attempt to monopolize the South China Sea.

The issue isn't just about oil and gas, or just about resources; it's about their intention to monopolize the South China Sea, both in terms of resources and freedom of navigation. Security in the Asia-Pacific region is therefore affected. Bringing the oil rig there is just one step in the process of carrying out such a scheme.

Thirdly, the National Assembly's statement should affirm Vietnam's friendship with the Chinese people, instruct Vietnamese authorities to do everything to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and affirm the directive to state agencies to prepare and proceed with legal action against China.

We do this so that our people, and the people of the whole world, are not deceived by China, to show them that they say one thing and do another, using a combination of coercion and appeasement…

The option of suing China has been carefully considered for a long time, with many believing it would be difficult and not easy. As a lawyer, what is your assessment of this?

Initiating legal action marks the beginning of a lengthy legal struggle in a complex context. There are advantages, but also many difficulties, especially regarding issues of sovereignty. However, taking legal action is more beneficial than doing nothing. Of course, we must be very wise, meticulous, and well-prepared.

In the parliamentary session, he stated that there is no more time allocated for the South China Sea issue between now and the end of the session. While acknowledging the already heavy workload of the session, he questioned whether, given the current urgent circumstances, the National Assembly should prioritize this matter or extend the session to focus on it.

I've seen that the agenda for the period from now until next Tuesday, when the National Assembly closes, no longer includes any content about the South China Sea. What's needed now isn't for further discussion and debate, but rather to reach a consensus on a specific course of action. Therefore, today I must offer my opinion amidst the discussion on the Identity Card Law.

Compared to the South China Sea issue, the issue of sovereignty is less urgent and arguably less important than discussing or passing certain laws as planned. Without sovereignty, all laws are meaningless.

Do you believe your proposal will be accepted?

I hope so, and I also believe that the Party, State, and National Assembly leaders will consider it. I think my opinion today is not just a personal or minority opinion, but I believe that the majority of National Assembly deputies share this desire. I believe they have been waiting for this for a long time, just like me, and if we consult them, I believe the majority of deputies will agree with the National Assembly issuing a resolution.

According to VnEconomy