Vietnam to push for "settlement" of strategic islands

~ Le Vięt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

Vietnam to push for "settlement" of strategic islands

HANOI - A 10-year economic development plan presented to the five-yearly congress of Vietnam's ruling communist party called for "population settlement in crucial ... islands in conformity with national defence." Foreign Minister Ngueyn Dy Nien refused to be drawn Friday on whether the new policy applied to the uninhabited Spratly islands, which are the subject of a prolonged dispute with neighbouring China that led to armed clashes as recently as the 1980s.

But he did insist that Hanoi maintained the right to develop the South China Sea archipelago as it saw fit, pending agreement with China and the four other claimants on a code of conduct for the disputed area. "Pending agreement on the code of conduct, we think that the national economic development may continue to be implemented," he said. The 10-year development strategy demanded that Vietnam "invest in socio-economic development and population settlement in crucial regions, frontier areas, border gates and islands, in conformity with national defence and national security strategies." The Spratlys are the main uninhabited islands off Vietnam where a territorial dispute creates national security concerns.

Vietnam should also "build logistic bases in a number of islands for forward movement into open seas and closely combine economic development with maritime security protection," the strategy said. The aim was to "form a sea and island economic development strategy" and "move actively toward the sea and control the territorial seas." Nien insisted that the document should be seen as "guidlines" for "general policy." "Specific implementation will be decided by each sector and each locality," the foreign minister said. He refused to be drawn on what the reaction had been from the Chinese delegation led by Vice President Hu Jintao which is attending Vietnam's party congress.

But he restated Hanoi's territorial claim to the islands, where both communist neighbours maintain military garrisons. "Vietnam's position on the East Sea (South China Sea) is very clear and it has been repeatedly restated," he said. He stressed that Vietnam, China and the other claimants had already "reached very fundamental agreements" on the code of conduct, although he acknowledged "there remain some differences." "The Communist Party of Vietnam has a policy to have a special relationship with China," which was reflected in the 16 separate letters of agreement reached by the leaders of the two countries' ruling communist parties.

Agence France Presse - April 20, 2001.

Vietnam Renews Spratlys Claim; To Settle People On Islands

HANOI - Vietnam reiterated its claim Friday to disputed islands in the South China Sea after its Communist Party approved plans to resettle people and build logistics bases on islands deemed important to its national security. Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien made the claim on the sidelines of a national party congress attended by Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao. China and Vietnam are among five countries which claim the Spratly islands. Any attempt to build new settlements or structures there would be hotly contested by the other claimants.

The four-day congress, which began Thursday, is expected to also endorse a reshuffle in Vietnam's top leadership, with National Assembly Speaker Nong Duc Manh expected to become the new party general secretary, the country's top post. A formal vote on the new leadership will be taken Saturday and an official announcement made Sunday, the congress' final day. Manh, 60, considered more reform-minded than current conservative leader Le Kha Phieu, would be the first member of an ethnic minority to head the party.

"Vietnam's position in the South China Sea is very clear," Nien said in a foreign policy briefing. "It has been repeated many times." Nien acknowledged that Vietnam "is still in the negotiation process" in asserting its claims over the disputed territories. He said he hopes Southeast Asian countries and China will be able to agree soon on a code of conduct to avoid hostilities in the contested areas. "There remain some differences but I believe those differences will be reduced," he said. "Pending agreement on a code of conduct, maritime economic development will continue."

In a report outlining plans for socio-economic development submitted to the congress, Vietnam said it would "invest in socio-economic development and population settlement in crucial regions, frontier areas, border gates and islands in conformity with national defense and national security strategies." It also said Vietnam will "build logistics bases in a number of islands for forward movement onto the open seas." China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all have claims to the Spratlys, a chain of islands in the South China Sea believed to be rich in oil and other minerals. Vietnam and China also claim the Paracels, another island group.

China and Vietnam, which fought a bloody land war in 1979, had a gun battle over the Spratlys in 1988.

The Associated Press - April 20, 2001.