• An Giang
  • Binh Duong
  • Binh Phuoc
  • Binh Thuan
  • Binh Dinh
  • Bac Lieu
  • Bac Giang
  • Bac Kan
  • Bac Ninh
  • Ben Tre
  • Cao Bang
  • Ca Mau
  • Can Tho
  • Dien Bien
  • Da Nang
  • Da Lat
  • Dak Lak
  • Dak Nong
  • Dong Nai
  • Dong Thap
  • Gia Lai
  • Ha Noi
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Ha Giang
  • Ha Nam
  • Ha Tinh
  • Hoa Binh
  • Hung Yen
  • Hai Duong
  • Hai Phong
  • Hau Giang
  • Khanh Hoa
  • Kien Giang
  • Kon Tum
  • Lai Chau
  • Long An
  • Lao Cai
  • Lam Dong
  • Lang Son
  • Nam Dinh
  • Nghe An
  • Ninh Binh
  • Ninh Thuan
  • Phu Tho
  • Phu Yen
  • Quang Binh
  • Quang Nam
  • Quang Ngai
  • Quang Ninh
  • Quang Tri
  • Soc Trang
  • Son La
  • Thanh Hoa
  • Thai Binh
  • Thai Nguyen
  • Thua Thien Hue
  • Tien Giang
  • Tra Vinh
  • Tuyen Quang
  • Tay Ninh
  • Vinh Long
  • Vinh Phuc
  • Vung Tau
  • Yen Bai

Small countries should not suffer in silence, says former VFF leader

VGP - Mr. Pham The Duyet, former member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and former President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee made the statement while granting an interview to our reporter recently.

June 10, 2014 8:07 PM GMT+7

“I was assigned by the Party to work in different fields, and had the opportunities to meet many senior Chinese officials. The two sides always promised to each other to bolster the development of ties between the two countries. However, over the past month and a half, China has been pushing forward with its ill intentions, causing anger among not only the Vietnamese people, but also people in the world who respect peace and justice, and those who are well versed in Viet  Nam-China ties.

“I have been tormented by the question of why a socialist country would do such as thing to a fraternal country and its comrade. We have sought every way to solve the issue through discussion, because no one understands more about the pain of war than we Vietnamese do. At the same time, no other people love freedom, treasure their national sovereignty and sacrifice as much to protect national sovereignty as much as the Vietnamese. Such acts by China cause anger and disapproval among the Vietnamese people.

“China even brazenly brings military ships and aircraft into Viet Nam’s waters, aggressively ramming Viet Nam’s law enforcement and civilian ships. These acts entirely run counter to the law and morality and go against the aspiration of and the friendship between the Vietnamese and Chinese people.

“It is true that China has provided great help to Viet Nam, especially during our resistance wars against France and the US . We are very appreciative of the help, but what China has done recently reflects a lack of thought and respect for the law.”

The former official expressed his support for the Party and State’s guidance and the Government’s policy of persevering with negotiations and struggling by all possible peaceful means. At the same time, he affirmed that small countries are never meant to have to suffer in silence.

“Our people, young or old, are all resentful about the chauvinistic, authoritative, bullying and double-faced attitude of China towards Viet Nam . Vietnam has conducted more than 30 dialogues and sent diplomatic notes to the United Nations to protest China ’s action, but China intentionally ignored all this goodwill and even slandered Viet Nam. We are resolved to fight for justice for Viet Nam and also for safeguarding international law, such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC), which China must respect.”

In conclusion, the former VFF leader stressed that before taking legal action, one important thing should be taken into consideration; the aspirations of the people. “For Vietnamese people, independence and national sovereignty are sacred,” he said.