Vietnamese protest against the "tyrannical" expansion of China
by Paul N. Hung
The Hanoi government has to find the "positive and effective" measures to protect the fishermen and vessels for oil exploration as soon as possible. In June, nearly 3 million Vietnamese in the world held a sit-in in front of Chinese embassies in the United States, France, Germany and other countries. Meanwhile, China seeks bilateral agreements to dominate the South China Sea.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Old, young, children, students, scientists, teachers, writers, farmers, factory workers: the entire Vietnamese people today, took to the streets to resist the '"tyrannical oppression and expansion" of the Chinese Communist regime in the South China Seas. In an announcement yesterday, intellectuals called on the government of Vietnam " to find positive and effective measures to protect the fishermen and boats for oil exploration as soon as possible." Because Hanoi "has to rely on the strength of the whole Vietnamese people, both at home and around the world."
In recent weeks, at least 3 million Vietnamese fishermen and sailors all over the world organized sit-in in front of Chinese embassies of France, Germany, the United States and other countries. All cried, "Trung Quốc đà đảo lược xam" (down with the Chinese invasion), protesting against the repeated attempts to occupy the Spratly Islands.
Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American, told AsiaNews: "I am very concerned about the aggressive ambitions of China. On 3 July I took part in a peaceful demonstration in Hanoi. The people who were with me spoke of the Chinese paramilitary ships, which for years have blocked Vietnamese fishing vessels, killing hundreds of thousands of fishermen and shooting women, children and elderly living in the border provinces in northern Vietnam. "
Meanwhile, the newspaper Revolutionary Military of China’s People says the "leaders of the Chinese military" are heading to Vietnam "to resolve sensitive issues" and guide Vietnamese public opinion "in the right direction." In fact, Beijing continues to seek only bilateral agreements, so as to intimidate smaller countries and force them to accept their claims on maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. The other countries are instead calling for multilateral agreements.
In June of this year tension between China, Vietnam and the Philippines increased after beijing’s "paramilitary ships” disguised as fishing vessels, arrived in Vietnamese waters. May 25 and June 9, armed ships cut the cables of two Vietnamese ships for oil exploration, the Binh Minh 02 and the Viking II. And since June 15, Beijing has sent a large ship from its coast guard to control navigation, explicitly signalling its ambitions on the Spratly and Paracel islands, uninhabited, but very rich in resources and raw materials. The hegemony of the area is of strategic importance for trade and exploitation of raw materials, including oil and natural gas.
In recent weeks, at least 3 million Vietnamese fishermen and sailors all over the world organized sit-in in front of Chinese embassies of France, Germany, the United States and other countries. All cried, "Trung Quốc đà đảo lược xam" (down with the Chinese invasion), protesting against the repeated attempts to occupy the Spratly Islands.
Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American, told AsiaNews: "I am very concerned about the aggressive ambitions of China. On 3 July I took part in a peaceful demonstration in Hanoi. The people who were with me spoke of the Chinese paramilitary ships, which for years have blocked Vietnamese fishing vessels, killing hundreds of thousands of fishermen and shooting women, children and elderly living in the border provinces in northern Vietnam. "
Meanwhile, the newspaper Revolutionary Military of China’s People says the "leaders of the Chinese military" are heading to Vietnam "to resolve sensitive issues" and guide Vietnamese public opinion "in the right direction." In fact, Beijing continues to seek only bilateral agreements, so as to intimidate smaller countries and force them to accept their claims on maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. The other countries are instead calling for multilateral agreements.
In June of this year tension between China, Vietnam and the Philippines increased after beijing’s "paramilitary ships” disguised as fishing vessels, arrived in Vietnamese waters. May 25 and June 9, armed ships cut the cables of two Vietnamese ships for oil exploration, the Binh Minh 02 and the Viking II. And since June 15, Beijing has sent a large ship from its coast guard to control navigation, explicitly signalling its ambitions on the Spratly and Paracel islands, uninhabited, but very rich in resources and raw materials. The hegemony of the area is of strategic importance for trade and exploitation of raw materials, including oil and natural gas.
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