(VOVWORLD) - The people and authorities of Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa province, which administer Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa districts, are indignant over China’s announcement that it is establishing the so-called “Xisha district” in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and “Nansha district” in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.
 China says the so-called Nansha administration will be placed on Spratly’s Fiery Cross Reef. The Fiery Cross Reef is one of the seven marine features in Vietnam’s Spratly archipelago where China has illegally built artificial islands and constructed various civilian and military structures in an attempt to control the East Sea. (Photo: AMTI/CSIS) |
The Vietnamese say this action violates international law and infringes Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty and sovereign rights over the two archipelagos in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea).
Da Nang residents have posted on Facebook and Zalo social networks their assertion that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam.
Historian Nguyen Minh Khoa said: “Hoang Sa and Truong Sa are part of Vietnam’s sovereignty and inseparable from Vietnam’s territory. This has been established by historical and cultural evidence and by international acknowledgement. China’s recent action is a flagrant violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty. We strongly condemn China’s action.”
On Sunday evening, the People’s Committee of Hoang Sa district of Da Nang City issued a statement saying China is seriously violating Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty, flouting international law, and worsening the situation in the East Sea.
The Committee denounced China and asked it to rescind this action and halt all its illegal actions in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.
Nguyen Tan Tuan, Chairman of Khanh Hoa province’s People’s Committee, said China’s action violates international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“We demand an immediate end to this illegal action. Khanh Hoa authorities encourage fishermen to continue fishing everywhere in Vietnamese waters and help to protect our sea and island sovereignty. We are working to build a stronger Truong Sa district, boost production, and safeguard Vietnam’s territorial integrity,” said Tuan.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Huynh Nhu from the southern city of Ca Mau city said: "Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam. We have all legal evidence to prove it. Any acts that violate the archipelagos are illegal and condemned."