(VOVworld) – The Vietnamese community in Geneva and the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association held an exhibit and seminar on Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea on Saturday to protest China’s militarization there and its violation of international law. A petition was also sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

China’s ships at Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) reef in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago. (Photo: EPA)

On display are 110 old maps, documents, photos asserting Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands in the East Sea.
A seminar on the same topic was organized with the participation of lawyer Pierre Schifferli of the Bar of Geneva and Anjuska Weil, Chairwoman of the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association.
The two speakers noted the danger and rapid development of the conflicts in the East Sea which are threatening not only regional countries but also the world navigation security.

At the event, organizers and participants signed a petition to the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon to oppose China’s militarization in the East Sea and its violation of international law.

The petition asked China to respect the international law, stop its acts of invasion, militarization in the East Sea, and abiding by commitments set in the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards the development of Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).