Overseas students join efforts to protect marine sovereignty

The event drew the participation of former Vice President Truong My Hoa, Chairwoman of the “For the beloved Hoang Sa – Truong Sa” club, and Vietnamese students at the University of Queensland, the Queensland University of Technology, the Griffith University, and the James Cook University.

Ngo Chi Nguyen, a postgraduate pursuing the political science doctoral degree at the University of Queensland, highlighted the East Sea’s strategic importance and disputes in this waters as well as historical and legal evidence proving Vietnam’s undeniable sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

A number of attendees said young Vietnamese people, including those studying abroad, need to actively learn about the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), documents relating to Vietnam’s sovereignty and its exercise of sovereignty in the islands, and the country’s policies regarding the East Sea issue in order to disseminate precise information to their international friends and support the protection of the national sovereignty.

At the event, Truong My Hoa spoke highly of overseas students’ patriotism and suggested similar events be held to raise their awareness of safeguarding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

She also briefed participants about the country’s sovereignty protection and the outcomes of the fund-raising campaign “For beloved Truong Sa students”, which built two primary schools in Truong Sa town and Sinh Ton commune in Truong Sa island district, central Khanh Hoa province.

Concluding the talk, Vietnamese students issued a joint statement voicing their deep concern over recent moves that escalated East Sea tensions, protesting unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo in the waters, and supporting the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to settle disputes peacefully.

VNA