Regardless of international laws and opinions, the illegal activities carried out by China on the South China Sea recently have been a serious threat to the freedom of navigation, aviation, peace and stability in the region.

Lately, China has been building up artificial islands in its illegal occupation position of Vietnam, in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands, stepping up military operations in the South China Sea.

These overbearing actions by China are aiming to turn the South China Sea (inlcuding Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands) and the international waters into a “lake” of China, performing the intention to monopolize the East Sea.

Responding to these extremely dangerous actions, overseas Vietnamese in Thailand expressed their angry voices, strongly opposed to China’s infringements of sovereignty over the South China Sea.

Mr. To Ngoc Lam – Chairman of overseas Vietnamese Business Association in Thailand

Mr To Ngoc Lam, Chairman of Overseas Vietnamese Bussiness Association in Thailand, said, “China’s actions affect negatively not only Vietnam, but Thailand also. Because, they caused a bad impact on the security situation in the region; the traffic flow, transportation by ship and plane. Thailand is one country directly affected.”

Not only conducting militarizing activities, in recent times, China’s ships regularly chased, threatened and rammed fishing boats of Vietnamese fishemen over traditional fishing grounds such as Truong Sa and Hoang Sa. Fishmen were arrested and assaulted; fishing gear was confiscated.

This is violent, inhuman behaviour, seriously threating to the lives and property of Vietnamese citizens, seriously violating Vietnam’s sovereignty and international laws.

Witnessing photographs and evidence of inhuman actions of Chinese side, Mr Trinh Cao Son, Vice Chairman of Vietnamese Association in Thailand, expressed discontent: “I feel very indignant at China’s action because it is the property of the poor. I hope the Government regularly pays attention to the lives of fishermen to timely address and avoid the occurence of similar incidents.”

Mr. Le Van Nguyen – former Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Udonthani province, Thailand

Concurring with this view, Mr. Le Van Nguyen, former Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Udonthani province, Thailand, hoped: “Government should firmly struggle for sovereignty by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, to maintain the sovereignty of the fatherland.”

Solidarity is a precious tradition of our nation, especially when the country is in difficulties, threatened by outside forces. With the tradition of patriotism, toward the country, overseas Vietnamese in Thailand are sharing a common voice with Vietnamese around the world to speak out against unruly behaviour of authorities of Beijing over the South China Sea, side by side with the people of both countries to support the efforts of the Party and State in the preservation of maritime sovereignty. Under the flag of justice, we also believe that we will always get the sharing and support of numerous international friends in defending our sovereignty and legitimate interests./.

( Ha Thuong )