​Vietnam Lawyer Association has announced its protest to Chinese illegal behaviors against international law

On 21st June 2012, Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs announced China's State Council had ratified decision so-called “Sansha” including Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos of Vietnam on its website.

Vietnam had all the legal and historical evidences to confirm its undisputable sovereignty on Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos. The Chinese act of establishing of what so-called Sansha City seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty on the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos and seriously violated basis principles of international law and Charter of the United Nations.

After that, on 23rd June 2012, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) officially announced its invitation for international bids for 09 petroleum blocks named JY 22, HY 10, HY 34, BS 16, DW 04, DW 22, YQ 18, RG 03 and RJ 27. Those blocks belonged to exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam. It was the nearest place from Phu Quy Island (13 sea miles), 60 sea miles far from Vietnam coast.

 

The bidding invitation violated Vietnam's sovereign rights, jurisdiction rights towards its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone stated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the articles No. 58, No. 76 and No.77; and disrespected the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

 

 

1. The association strongly protested the Chinese act of establishing of so-called Sansha City and requested China to cancel its wrongful decision.

 

2. The association strongly condemned and protested the act of CNOOC officially announcing to open international tenders for 09 petroleum blocks belonging to exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam; requested China to cease this wrongful invitation for bids. The association also requested international oil companies not to participate in the bidding for these nine blocks and respect Vietnam’s sovereign rights, jurisdiction rights and boycott illegal bidding invitation of CNOOC.

3. The association requested China to deeply respect and keep agreements between Chinese government and ASEAN’s countries, stated in Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea signed between China and ASEAN members in 2002.

4. The association appealed China as a permanent member of United Nation Security Council to behave responsibly and accordingly in accordance with United Nation Charter and respect the international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

5.The association strongly supported Vietnam Diplomacy Ministry's spokesman on 21st and 26th June 2012 on the two matters above.

 

6. The association supported Vietnamese Party and State’s policy which boosted the traditional co-operation and relations between Vietnam and China; at the same time requested China to deeply respect and keep agreements of senior leaders of the two countries.

 

7. The association appealed national lawyer organizations of ASEAN members, The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA), Chinese Lawyer Association and all lawyer organizations in the world to do their part to protect justice and international law, respect sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Vietnam, keep peace and security in the East Sea, together make a world of democracy, justice and civilization.

 

8. The association confirmed it would do its best to make a useful contribution to the legal fighting progress of Vietnamese State and people in order to protect territorial integrity of the country.