Vietnam has established and exercised its sovereignty over Hoang Sa(Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in a peaceful andcontinuous manner in line with international law at least since the 17th century.
The fact was proved by legal and historicalevidence which were presented to the delegates at an internationalseminar on Vietnam ’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Saarchipelagos held in central Quang Ngai province.
The two-day seminar, closed on April 28, brought together domestic andforeign scholars and researchers from various countries including theUS , Russia , Canada , Switzerland , Australia , India , theRepublic of Korea and the Philippines .
Duringtheir discussions, the delegates analysed these legal and historicalevidence, agreeing that Vietnam possesses the legal documentsaffirming the states of Vietnam have established and exercised theirsovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos at least since the17 th century.
In his presentation, Jonathan D.London, a professor from the City University of Hong Kong, pointed outthat China has no historical and legal evidence showing itssovereignty over the two above archipelagos.
The professor addedthat the official historical documents and maps published in the ChineseMing and Qing dynasties show China ’s territory ends at Hainanisland.
Many scholars slammed China ’s irrationalclaim over a nine-dash ‘cow-tongue’ line in the East Sea , sayingthe line is completely illegal as it has not yet been recognised by anyinternational laws.
They also criticised China ’s establishmentof the so-called Sansha city as violating Vietnam ’s sovereignty overHoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.
China ’s use of force tooccupy Hoang Sa archipelago in 1974 and several shoals on Truong Saarchipelago in 1988 were an absolute violation of international law,they stressed.
On April 28, the delegates visited LySon island district and attended “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa”, theannual Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers.
Thetraditional ceremony, taking place in An Vinh communal temple,commemorated Hoang Sa Flotilla sailors who laid down their lives fornational island sovereignty.
“Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” wasrecognised as part of the national intangible heritage and the An Vinhcommunal temple, as a national historical site.
According to Vietnam ’s feudal state history, the Hoang Sa Flotillawas set up when the Nguyen Lords began their reign in the south of thecountry.
Thousands of sailors overcame roaringwaves and storms to survey sea routes, plant milestones and erect stelesaffirming national territory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos,and mine marine resources ordered by Nguyen Lords. Their missions werefull of dangers, and many of them never returned to land.
To pay tribute to the men enlisted in the flotilla, “Le khao le thelinh Hoang Sa” has been observed through hundreds of years by familiesin Ly Son islands and many coastal areas in Quang Ngai.-VNA
The fact was proved by legal and historicalevidence which were presented to the delegates at an internationalseminar on Vietnam ’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Saarchipelagos held in central Quang Ngai province.
The two-day seminar, closed on April 28, brought together domestic andforeign scholars and researchers from various countries including theUS , Russia , Canada , Switzerland , Australia , India , theRepublic of Korea and the Philippines .
Duringtheir discussions, the delegates analysed these legal and historicalevidence, agreeing that Vietnam possesses the legal documentsaffirming the states of Vietnam have established and exercised theirsovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos at least since the17 th century.
In his presentation, Jonathan D.London, a professor from the City University of Hong Kong, pointed outthat China has no historical and legal evidence showing itssovereignty over the two above archipelagos.
The professor addedthat the official historical documents and maps published in the ChineseMing and Qing dynasties show China ’s territory ends at Hainanisland.
Many scholars slammed China ’s irrationalclaim over a nine-dash ‘cow-tongue’ line in the East Sea , sayingthe line is completely illegal as it has not yet been recognised by anyinternational laws.
They also criticised China ’s establishmentof the so-called Sansha city as violating Vietnam ’s sovereignty overHoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.
China ’s use of force tooccupy Hoang Sa archipelago in 1974 and several shoals on Truong Saarchipelago in 1988 were an absolute violation of international law,they stressed.
On April 28, the delegates visited LySon island district and attended “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa”, theannual Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers.
Thetraditional ceremony, taking place in An Vinh communal temple,commemorated Hoang Sa Flotilla sailors who laid down their lives fornational island sovereignty.
“Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” wasrecognised as part of the national intangible heritage and the An Vinhcommunal temple, as a national historical site.
According to Vietnam ’s feudal state history, the Hoang Sa Flotillawas set up when the Nguyen Lords began their reign in the south of thecountry.
Thousands of sailors overcame roaringwaves and storms to survey sea routes, plant milestones and erect stelesaffirming national territory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos,and mine marine resources ordered by Nguyen Lords. Their missions werefull of dangers, and many of them never returned to land.
To pay tribute to the men enlisted in the flotilla, “Le khao le thelinh Hoang Sa” has been observed through hundreds of years by familiesin Ly Son islands and many coastal areas in Quang Ngai.-VNA
