Vietnamese admiral advises fishermen not to approach Paracel Islands

Text of report by Vietnamese newspaper Lao Dong website on 2 November

[Interview with Rear Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, commander of the Naval Forces, by Duy Thanh; date and place not given: "Sail to the Sea and Draw Truong Sa Nearer to the Land"]

During a recess of the National Assembly session, Rear Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, commander of the Naval Forces, has talked to the press in a rather open way on territorial waters and islands issues, from the struggle to affirm our sovereignty on Hoang Sa [Paracel] Archipelago, the Vietnamese naval strength to the protection of fishermen and development of marine economy.

Hoang Sa [Paracel Islands] Belongs to Vietnam

Question: Commander, the people are very much interested in the issue of sovereignty on seawaters and islands. Suppose someone told you that he wishes to visit Hoang Sa and as a commander of the Naval Forces, how would you answer him?

Rear Admiral NguyenVan Hien: I will tell him that it is a legitimate wish and a good one. However, at present the archipelago is being occupied by a foreign country, so we do not have the condition to go there.

Question: So, what have we done and will do to affirm sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Archipelago?

Hien: At present, our country, ASEAN member countries, and China have signed the DOC [Declaration of Conduct] and are negotiating to come to the signing of the COC [Code of Conduct] (The DOC is only at the stage of declaration on the conduct at the East Sea, while the COC is a step higher as it produces a set of concrete codes of conduct at the East Sea).

The DOC agreement has two important points: The first is to keep the status-quo condition and not to further complicate the situation and the second is to settle all disputes through peaceful negotiation and not solve issues by military actions. This agreement is valid for all East Sea [South China Sea], which includes Truong Sa [Spratlys], and Hoang Sa [Paracels].

As far as Hoang Sa is concerned, we will continue to conduct a long-term struggle through peaceful measures based on historical proofs and international common practices. This is the reason we organized recently the conference and seminars on the East Sea where we presented our proofs.

We are continuing to collect evidences, documents, and to struggle through peaceful diplomacy and international legislation and if necessary, we will organize international seminars so the world will know that in historical and legal perspectives, Hoang Sa belongs to Vietnam. This certainly needs a long struggle that may last until the generations of our children or even our grandchildren.

Fishing in Sea Area Within 200 Nautical Miles Safe

Question: Taking into account the present situation, what should our Navy do to protect our sovereignty and our fishermen at sea?

Hien: We have a large sea area, thus the duties of protection of our sea area and of economic activities on the sea are of extreme importance. We now have a strategy for the sea that states that we need to go forward to our sea. In order to protect our sovereignty and our economic activity, we need to better arm our Navy and other sea management forces such as sea police, border defence force, fishery control, and so forth.

At present, the Vietnamese Navy is doing its duty to protect sovereignty. As far as economic activities on the sea are concerned, the Navy and other marine administration forces have the responsibility to detain, chase away foreign vessels trespassing on our territorial waters. On different occasions and at different locations, we have deployed our forces. At present, the Navy is coordinating its activities with other marine administration forces to improve the quality of patrolling and protecting economic activities in our territorial waters.

Question: Recently, it had happened that fishermen operating in our waters were attacked and even were maltreated and robbed when they took shelter from typhoon. What are your comments on this?

Hien: Until today, the areas in the Bac Bo gulf [Gulf of Tonkin] have been divided. The remaining issue of common fishing ground is still complicated. The Chinese fishermen fishing in our waters did not use the right vessel or type of fishing net, while our fishermen operating in their waters, in some occasions, did not bring the necessary papers. There were infringements from both parties.

The fact that a number of Chinese armed personnel have maltreated our fishermen is not acceptable and we have vehemently protested against this act. At the Truong Sa Islands, usually when the Chinese fishing vessels come very close to the island, we chase them out. However, in time of storm, we allow them to take shelter, carry out rescue if they are in danger, provide them with food and medicines and let them go when the typhoon is over. Because it is international practice to provide assistance in time of natural disaster. In our forthcoming friendship navy calls to other countries, we will bring up this matter.

Question: The people in the country are quite discontented, while fishermen are quite confused. With your responsibility as commander, what can you assert to help calm people's mind?

Hien: I can assert with our people that catching fish within the 200 nautical miles in our territorial waters is safe and will not be chased away. Even in the Hoang Sa [Paracel] area, you will not be chased out, except in the military checkpoints areas, which they have illegally occupied, you should not approach nearer than three miles. Hoang Sa [Paracel] is ours, but the Chinese have temporarily occupied, so you should not go too close to the island. In time of typhoon or storm, you may come in for shelter.

Source: Lao Dong website, Hanoi, in Vietnamese 2 Nov 09