(VOVworld)- Vietnam’s foreign affairs faced a lot of challenges in 2014 because the situation in the East Sea became tense after China illegally placed its oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.  Thanks to consistently pursuing a foreign policy of peace and flexible diplomatic manners, Vietnam has maintained its territorial sovereignty as well as its relationship with China.

 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attends teh 25th ASEAN Summit in Myanmar in November 2014

Vietnam’s diplomatic efforts to deal with complications in the East Sea in 2014 impressed the Vietnamese public. By implementing a master strategy, Vietnam managed to maintain peace and national sovereignty.

Being united, calm and consistent in dealing with any problem

During the days when China illegally placed its oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Vietnamese people were united and consistent in pursuing a foreign policy of peace to defend national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Vietnamese foreign policy reflected Vietnam’s friendship, love of peace, and determination to peacefully resolve disputes in line with international law. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted Vietnam’s diplomatic achievements in 2014: “We pursue a foreign policy of promoting relations with other countries to create a peaceful and stable environment for national development and national defense. These are reciprocal goals. Therefore, in 2014, when the situation in the East Sea became tense, we pursued several diplomatic activities to resolve the problem by peaceful means. We held more than 40 meetings with China to discuss the East Sea issue”.

Mobilizing combined strength on the diplomatic front.

Vietnamese Party and State leaders took advantage of all opportunities at forums at home and abroad to mobilize international support for Vietnam’s consistent stance of peacefully resolving disputes. More than 4 million overseas Vietnamese marched to show their love for their homeland and protest China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters.

Vietnam received strong support from the world community including the US, the EU, the UN, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia proved to be a united bloc on the East Sea issue at its summit. For the first time in 20 years, ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued a Statement on the East Sea.

Maintaining Vietnam-China relationship

After China withdrew its oil rig Haiyang 981 from Vietnamese waters, a special envoy of the Vietnamese Party leader went to China. The two countries agreed to handle disputes at sea properly, and not complicate their disputes. The agreement complies with Article 5 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed by China and ASEAN in 2002. A few months after this visit, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Permanent Member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee Yu Zhengsheng visited Vietnam. During these visits, China revealed its views on promoting a stable relationship with Vietnam. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said:“While resolving sea-related issues, Vietnam proactively maintained its relationship with China through exchanging delegations between Ministries, sectors and localities and promoting economic and trade ties with China. As a result, we managed to maintain our relationship with China while defending our national sovereignty and sovereign rights in the East Sea”.

In 2014, two-way trade between Vietnam and China earned a record 58 billion USD. Vietnam’s success in addressing complications in the East Sea provided useful lessons for Vietnam’s diplomacy, lessons about promoting national unity and international support to maintain national independence and sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace, and stability for development.