Online Petition (World Citizens against China's Invasion of Paracel and Spratly Island Chains)

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/against-chinas-invasion-of-paracel-and-spratly-island-chains.html

Published by Văn Nghệ Sĩ Việt Nam on Dec 13, 2007
Category: International Affairs
Region: GLOBAL
Target: Chinese Government
Web site: http://www.gopetition.com/online/15673.html
Description/History:

Please view the original petition site (in Vietnamese language)

1. ENGLISH:

CHINA INVADES VIETNAMESE TERRITORY

China’s Congress has ratified the establishment of an administrative region called Sansha to illegally exploit the three archipelagos including Vietnam's Paracel and Spratly Island chains.

China’s action clearly violates Vietnam’s sovereignty rights and the Law of the Sea.

At least since the 17th century, Vietnam has maintained effective occupation of Paracel and Spratly islands and has exercised effectively, continuously and peacefully its sovereignty over the two archipelagos. Vietnam’s long-held sovereignty precedes and pre-empts the French claims during the colonial era, the Japanese invasion during World War II and subsequent, illegitimate Chinese claims over the islands during recent decades.

Vietnam currently occupies 25 Spratly Islands features, the most of any claimant state. It claims all the Spratly Islands, whether on the basis of sovereignty over the islands themselves or as a consequence of claims based on its mainland continental shelf jurisdiction.

Thus, Vietnam has solid historical and legal grounds to firmly assert its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Island chains.


Please view the original petition site (in Vietnamese language)
Petition:
The Petition is originated in Vietnamese language and translated into English, French, Spanish, and Chinese below.

1. ENGLISH

A DECLARATION FROM CONCERNED VIETNAMESE CITIZENS

We, the undersigned, hereby declare as follows:

We defy and condemn the People's Republic of China for its invasion, development and occupation of Vietnam's Paracel and Spratly Island chains;

We demand the People's Republic of China to immediately cease and desist the establishment of an administrative region called Sansha to illegally exploit the three archipelagos including Vietnam's Paracel and Spratly Island chains.

We appeal:

To the United Nations to intervene and stop China's illegal invasion of Vietnam's Paracel and Spratly Island chains which violates historical sovereignty rights and the Law of the Sea;

To the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially countries with geo-strategic interests in the South China Sea, to demand the Chinese government to observe due process and abide by the status quo in the South China Sea.

We demand that:

The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to take direct, effective and timely measures against the People's Republic of China's invasion, development and occupation of the Paracel and Spratly Island chains;

The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to disseminate detailed information of the joint meetings between Vietnam and China and other related nations in regards to Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Island chains.

The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to support all peaceful and orderly manners of protest galvanized by Vietnamese citizens regarding this matter of national and international security and interest.

We call upon all Vietnamese, living in Vietnam and abroad, and regardless of political affiliations:

To boycott Chinese products, suspend travel to China, stay away from the Beijing Olympics, and continuously and persistently demand the return of the Paracel and Spratly Island chains to Vietnam.

Executed in Vietnam on the 7th of December, 2007

Concerned Vietnamese Writers and Artists