B: Alfred Albrecht from Germany said this was “shameful conduct” showing a power ambition and no respect for other countries”. Kai Motoffumi from Tokyo, Japan wrote: “I feel indignant about China’s action regardless of international law. Japanese newspapers write a lot about China’s incursion into Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and hitting and ramming Vietnamese fishing ships. The Chinese spokesperson has repeated unilateral, groundless arguments. I listen to VOV to know the truth of the issue. China’s actions are unacceptable internationally.

A: Another Japanese listener, Ishikawa Atsushi, told us: “Japanese media has regularly reported about tensions in the East Sea between Vietnam and China. China’s perverse actions are intolerable. All countries want to resolve tensions by peaceful measures.” He added that VOV’s information and video clips captured by Japanese NHK’s reporters clearly showed that Chinese ships hit Vietnamese law enforcement ships.

Chinese missile vessel No.534 near oil rig Haiyang 981 (photo: canhsatbien)

B: Thai listener Attapon commented on China’s illegal placement of the Haiyang 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf: “It’s a blatant action breaching international law, ignoring public opposition, and violating Vietnam’s sovereignty.”

A: From France, Michel Minouflet, shared his opinion: “No one in the world can ignore China’s incursion and illegal placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf.” Andreas Mucklich of Germany said: “The German section has talked in detail about China’s provocative actions in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf. I hope your neighbor country will resolve the problem peacefully and not worsen the situation.”

B: Besides slamming China’s illegal actions in Vietnam’s EEZ, listeners also encouraged and expressed their support for Vietnamese people. Hean Sarann in Cambodia shared his family’s views: “My wife and I are concerned over the tensions between Vietnam and China in the East Sea and the two archipelagos. We hope that China will respect international law. We hope the two countries will settle disputes through peaceful means for political stability and economic development”.

A Chinese vessel threatened to hit and ram Vietnamese marine police vessel

A: From Indonesia, M. Zainal sent us a letter: “Indonesia and ASEAN support Vietnam and hope that the East Sea issue will be resolved through talks. I hope China will realize that its wrongful actions have violated Vietnam’s sovereignty”. Eddy Setiawan in East Jakarta, Indonesia, wrote: “I regret that China’s actions have affected Vietnam and its people. I hope that opposition from people around the world will make China recognize its unethical conduct and the issue will be resolved soon without causing losses to Vietnam and its people”.

 B: Meanwhile, Mike Gottfried from Princeton, the US supports Vietnam through specific actions. He said: “I will write letters to our leaders in Washington, demanding them to express solidarity with Vietnam in the issue with China. It’s totally unfair when China illegally penetrated deep in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Only peaceful solutions and international law can create a better future for nations. The US supports Vietnam. We do everything for peace. China stops provocative actions against our Vietnamese friends.”

A: From Spain, Roberto Diez Echecvarria said: “Conflicts between Vietnam and China should be resolved through dialogue and peaceful solutions.” Many listeners shared the same views with Roberto Diez Echecvarria in resolving East Sea tensions. In a letter sent to VOV’s Thai section, Attpon said: “I agreed with Vietnam’s peaceful solutions and not using force to resolve the tensions. I hope Vietnam will succeed in this case.”

B: Many Chinese people also agree that the placing of China’s Haiyang 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s EEZ and continental shelf is wrong. Zhang Pei Qiang wrote on VOV’s website: “I hope the situation will not affect the two countries’ relations and not develop into clashes as in 1979. If war breaks out, both sides will suffer losses. The two countries need to resolve the tensions through negotiation. China, Taiwan, and Vietnam have all claimed sovereignty in the East Sea. In my viewpoint, Xisha archipelago, the name China calls Vietnam’s Hoang Sa, belongs to Vietnam because both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have never actually managed the archipelago.”

B: The support from people worldwide and constructive opinions from VOV’s Dx’ers are a meaningful boost for the Vietnamese people. Vietnam loves peace and is eager to resolve the tensions as soon as possible. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to you all for accompanying Vietnam in preserving peace.

A: Now, let’s read listeners’ reception reports and comments on other contents on our program last week. Gerry Neumann of England emailed us and said he would come to Vietnam in the next few days to stay in Hue city. He also hoped to come to Hanoi and dropped at VOV’s headquarters at 45 Ba Trieu during his one month trip to Vietnam.

B: You are always welcome, Gerry. We are longing to meet you at our office in good shape as in your previous visit to VOV. We thank you for your detailed technical report on the frequency of 9625 khz which was not completely satisfactory in Hamsphire, England. “On May 26, the signal was 43443 with slight to moderate interference from stations on adjacent frequencies 9630 khz and 9620 khz.” At 17UTC, the signal went off-air part-way through the female announcer giving details of the program and came on again at 17:05 during the domestic news item about students demonstrating in support of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago.”

A: Thank you again for your specific and useful remark for our technicians to monitor broadcast quality aboard. Another British listener Grant Skinner listened to our program on April 25^th on 7280 khz using a Grundig YB-400 with extendable rod. He rated SINPO at 35342. Skinner wrote: “I’m a DX-ing enthusiast and I like to discover world via shortwave. I can travel around the globe with my radio. My house is an open window to the world.”

B: We’re glad that you choose Radio the Voice of Vietnam to explore the world, especially the Southeast Asian nations. If you want to know any particular topic about Vietnam, please send your questions to us and we’ll try to bring you sufficient information.

That’s it for today’s program on VOV. We’ll verify your reception reports and we hope you will get our QSL cards soon. We welcome your letters at: English section, Overseas Service, Radio Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.org.vn. You’re invited to visit us online at www.vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs. Good bye until next time.