Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh: Vietnam never makes unprincipled concessions on sovereignty

The second Vietnam-China defense-security strategic dialogue at the deputy ministerial level took place on August 28 in Beijing (China) under the co-chair of Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, and Senior Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The two sides agreed on many measures to promote bilateral defense cooperation and reached common perceptions on many issues, contributing to increasing the friendly relations between Vietnam and China.

At this Vietnam-China Defense-Security Strategic Dialogue, the two sides agreed to continue promoting cooperation in many areas such as increasing delegation exchanges, soon completing the hotline between the two Defense Ministries, expanding long-term and short-term military student training exchanges. China agreed to share experiences with Vietnam in participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force...

The two sides also said it is necessary to step up information and propaganda so that Vietnamese and Chinese soldiers and people clearly understand the traditional friendship, practical cooperation and mutual benefit between the two countries' armies and people.

During the dialogue, the two sides also spent time discussing the situation in the Middle East and North Africa and especially the promotion of major countries' involvement in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We need to carefully study the consequences of this involvement to build a peaceful, stable and surprise-free region,” said Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh.

Scene of the second Vietnam-China defense-security strategy dialogue at the Deputy Minister level. Photo: VNA.

However, he said: “The most important reason leading to this involvement is due to internal problems arising between countries in the region.”

In the spirit of building on comradeship and brotherhood, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and Senior Lieutenant General Ma Hieu Thien frankly discussed the remaining differences in the relationship between the two countries.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian, the most sensitive and controversial point in the relationship between the two countries is the sovereignty dispute in the East Sea. The two countries need to properly handle this issue for the sake of the overall Vietnam-China relationship and regional stability.

“Peace is beneficial for both sides. Confrontation is detrimental for both sides,” said Senior General Ma Xiaotian.

Affirming that Vietnam always attaches importance to the overall relationship with China and wishes to find a "win-win" solution, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh clearly stated that the East Sea issue has three different but closely related aspects, which are the sovereignty claims of the countries involved; Handling the relationship between Vietnam and China; Handling at multilateral forums.

Vietnam and China have many claims of sovereignty at different times, content and scope. Solving the problem must respect history but no matter what, must comply with international law.

The Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defense said that the issues in the East Sea need to be handled according to international law. These are international issues under the Law of the Sea that must be resolved on an international level. Issues involving many countries need to be resolved between the countries involved. Issues involving two countries need to be resolved bilaterally. The sovereignty disputes between Vietnam and China clearly need to be resolved between the two countries, according to international law and openly and transparently.

“Vietnam has no intention of internationalizing the issues between Vietnam and China for our own benefit,” said Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh also shared that to protect and build the country, there is only one way: to maintain independence, territorial sovereignty and good relations with the international community. These cannot be achieved if one relies on one country to fight against another.

“Vietnam is a friend and a trusted partner of all countries in the world. But if Vietnam needs support, sympathy, cooperation and development, who else is there than neighboring Socialist China, with more than 1.35 billion people, developing, with increasingly high position and prestige in the world, once you respect Vietnam's independence and sovereignty and want Vietnam to develop together?”

Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh also highlighted the need for openness and transparency in forums so that the people of the two countries and the international community can clearly understand the nature of the East Sea issue in the overall friendly relationship between the two countries: "Having complete and accurate information is the need of more than 80 million Vietnamese people and more than 1.35 billion Chinese people."

We need to make the people of the two countries understand that there are still problems between Vietnam and China, but the two Parties and two States have committed to handling them by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, with solutions that are acceptable to both sides," said Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh.

The Lieutenant General further emphasized: “It is an obvious fact that China pledges not to take land or sea from Vietnam, and Vietnam will never make unprincipled concessions on sovereignty. And Vietnam will never rely on any country to oppose China!”

Vietnam is ready to cooperate and develop with China in areas that are actually disputed according to international law, and in the long term will seek solutions that are acceptable to both sides, but "while the issue has not been resolved, the two sides absolutely must not use force and must not even think about using force," Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh emphasized.

According to VNA