China’s so-called ‘nine-dash line’ in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) illustrates a unilateral and baseless territorial claim that has been strongly condemned by countries around the world and is a pointed violation of the sovereignty of a number of Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. Any communication or publication featuring China’s nine-dash line violates Vietnamese law. Vietnamese agencies have detected multiple cases of passports, tourism brochures, and other products containing the image of China’s nine-dash line.

Vietnamese authorities have issued regulations imposing fines and other punishments for such violations. They have also increased communications to warn businesses not to inadvertently import such products.

Au Anh Tuan, Director of the Customs Inspection Section of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, said: "To prevent similar cases, we have instructed provincial and municipal customs agencies to inspect any imported products which might violate Vietnamese law or wrongly represent Vietnam’s national sovereignty, territorial waters, and territory, and deal strictly with violations."

Vietnamese import businesses are being more careful in transactions with trading partners and are on the lookout for images of China’s nine-dash line in imported products. In contracts with Chinese partners, Vietnamese businesses require the partner to pledge not to use images or other content that violates Vietnam’s national sovereignty and borders.

Thanks to the vigilance of customs agencies and Vietnamese import companies, no new violations have been detected so far this year.