Evidences of Vietnam's Sovereignty on the Bien Dong Sea

The sea and islands are integral parts of the sacred sovereignty area of the Motherland, which, together with the land and the airspace create the environment for our nation’s eternal survival and development. The world is entering an “ocean era”, and extending to the sea has become a major trend in coastal states. Even non-coastal states are seeking ways to reach out to the sea and take advantage of marine resources. To Vietnam, the sea plays an important role in its open door process and international integration. The sea, seabed and ocean surface contain a great diversity of resources, which provide our country with food, raw materials, fuels, and energy, and are becoming more and more essential to the development of the country in the present and future. To firmly protect our Motherland - the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to ensure respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our land, sea, and air, and prevent any risk of invasion from outside, are the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen and the State of Vietnam. These also concern other states, primarily neighboring states or other states in the region. For generations, our forefathers have sacrificed innumerable amounts of sweat, blood and lives to preserve and protect the sacred waters of the country. Today, we need to creatively apply the historical lessons, combining national strength with the power of the time to continue to assert the indisputable sovereignty of Vietnam over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, exactly as taught by President Ho Chi Minh: “Previously we only had the nights and the forests. Today, we have the days, the sun and the sea. Our coast is long and beautiful. We should know how to keep it”.