This is the second time Vietnamese in Belgium have rallied to protest against China’s act. The meeting contributed to publicising China’s illegal deeds to the international community and thus calling on them to support Vietnam in the issue. 

Demonstrators held high slogans and banners in the Vietnamese language and translated into English, French and Dutch to request China to remove its rig out of Vietnam’s waters and accusing the country of violating international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

On behalf of the Vietnamese Community in the Belgium, Prof. Nguyen Dang Hung, a lecturer from Liege University, called on Vietnamese people and peace-loving people from all over the world to oppose China’s aggressive move. 

He said China is ignoring the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and recent bilateral agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders. 

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Tran Ngoc Thach stressed the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent stance of taking every measure to safeguard national sovereignty. 

Vietnamese people expressed their belief in the Party and State’s leadership, and vowed to further bolster solidarity to oppose China’s illegal move. 

On the occasion, the embassy launched a campaign to raise funds for officers and soldiers who are working night and day to safeguard the country’s sea and island sovereignty.