Worldwide Affirmation of Vietnamese Sovereignty
Over the Spratly & Paracel Islands
Made by Vietnamese Organizations
Both At Home and Abroad
On December 2, 2007, the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC), once again, encroached upon the sovereignty of Vietnam by establishing the City of Sansha within the Province of Hainan to administer a number of islands, including Truong Sa (Spratly Islands, called Nansha in Chinese) and Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands, Xisha in Chinese), two groups of Vietnamese islands in the South China Sea. This action is the culmination of a chain of brazen maneuvers taken by the PRC to gradually take away Vietnamese territory at sea. Specifically, the PRC:
- sent its navy to invade Hoang Sa on January 19, 1974;
- took over Truong Sa on March 14, 1988;
- annexed Truong Sa and Hoang Sa to the Province of Hainan on April 14, 1988.
In view of the above developments, we, the undersigned representatives of Vietnamese organizations all over the world, solemnly declare, on behalf of all the Vietnamese who are concerned about Vietnam's sovereignty, that we:
- condemn the PRC's world hegemony strategy as evidenced by the use of brute force to take over the territories of its neighbours;
- strongly reject the PRC's claim of sovereignty over the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa Archipelagoes;
- call upon all peace-loving and justice-upholding countries in the world to press the PRC to return these islands to Vietnam;
- urge all Vietnamese to protest the PRC's actions by holding demonstrations in front of the PRC's diplomatic missions all over the world, especially in Hanoi and Saigon.
We hold the Vietnamese Communist regime responsible for the losses of Vietnam's territorial sovereignty to the PRC, as shown by the following historical facts:
- On September 14, 1958, Vietnamese Communist Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, in an official correspondence with the PRC's government, "recognized and agreed with the government of the People's Republic of China's announcement on September 4, 1958, defining the territorial waters of China" (to include the Spratly and Paracel Archipelagoes);
- The Vietnamese Communist government remained silent when the PRC took over Hoang Sa after a battle with the navy of the former Republic of Vietnam on January 19, 1974.
We firmly believe that the Vietnamese people should unite to preserve and protect the integrity of our ancestral territorial legacy. This unity can only be realized in a free and democratic Vietnam where human rights are respected. This is the only way that we can rally the unanimous support of the people of Vietnam to face the threat of foreign invasion.
December 7, 2007
Political Organizations:
1. Dai Viet Revolutionary Party (Mr. Bui Diem, President)
2. Dai Viet Nationalist Party (Dr. Phan Van Song, President)
3. People's Democratic Party (Mr. Do Thanh Cong, Spokesman)
4. Tan Dai Viet Party (Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Sang, President)
5. Vietnam Progression Party (Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Overseas Representative)
6. For the People Party (Mr. Nguyen Cong Bang, Representative)
7. Association for Constitutional Democracy, the Rule of Law and Multipartyism (Dao Tang Duc, Esq., President)
8. Association for Democracy and Development of Vietnam (Dr. Au Duong The, President)
9. Bloc 8406 of Manifesto on Freedom & Democracy for Vietnam (Rev. Phan Van Loi, Representative)
10. Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights for Vietnam (Prof. Nguyen Chinh Ket, Representative)
11. Alliance for Democracy of Vietnam (Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nam, President)
12. Vietnam Recovery Alliance (Mr. Vo Dai Ton, President)
13. National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (Prof. Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Chairman)
14. Vietnam People's Action Movement (Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan, President)
15. Vietnam Democracy Organization (Mr. Pham Hoang, President)
16. Vietnam Restoration Party (Mr. Tran Quoc Bao, President)
17. International Committee for Freedom To Support The Non-Violent Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam (Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, President)
18. Vietnam Reform Party (Mr. Do Hoang Diem, President)
19. Vietnam Nationalist Party (Mr. Tran Tu Thanh, Spokesman, Supervisory Board, Overseas Branch)
Specialized Organizations
1. "A Call For Democracy" Committee (Prof. Nguyen Thanh Trang, Representative)
2. Hon Viet Youth Group (Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hiep, President)
3. Da Hieu Youth Group in Pennsylvania (Dr. Do Nguyen Nhat Khai, President)
4. Goodwill Youth Group of San Jose, CA (Mr. Le Thanh, Group Leader)
5. Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Organization of Quang Duc Region (Mr. Le Quang Dat, President)
6. Former Members of the Armed Forces and Administration of the Republic of Vietnam in Holland (Mr. Le Quang Ke, Representative)
7. The United Workers-Farmers Organization of Vietnam (Mr. Huynh Long, Vice-President)
8. Vietnamese American Voters Association (Mrs. Jackie Bong Wright, President)
9. Former Vietnamese Political & Religious Prisoners Association (Prof. Pham Tran Anh, Vice-President)
10. Former Political Prisoners Association, Pennsylvania (Mr. Nguyen Duc Nghia, President)
11. Tay Son-Binh Dinh Friendship Association of Colorado (Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoa, President)
12. Former Graduates of Thu Duc Military Academy, Colorado (Mr. Ho Thanh Danh, President)
13. Vietnamese Senior Citizens Association of Charlotte, NC (Mr. Nguyen Quang Minh, President)
14. Vietnamese Professionals Association (Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Danh, President)
15. Former Republic of Vietnam Military and Government Personnel of Charlotte, NC, and Vicinity (Mr. Ta Ngoc Tran, President)
16. Vietnamese Veterans, Michigan (Mr. Nguyen Thanh Van, President)
17. Vietnamese Veterans, Ontario, Canada (Mr. Nguyen Van Tan, President)
18. Former Members of the Armed Forces and Administration of the Republic of Vietnam in South Carolina (Mr. Phan Tan Hieu, President)
19. Former Graduates of Dalat National Military Academy (Mr. Nguyen Duc Chien, President)
20. National School of Administration Alumni Association, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Mr. Le Van Chau, Representative)
21. Former Members of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces, Austin, Texas (Mr. Do Van Phuc, President)
22. Vietnamese American Sciences & Technology Association (Dr. Mai Thanh Truyet, President)
23. Remembrance of Hue Association (Mrs. Ton Nu Quynh Loan, Representative)
24. Vietnamese American Women's Association of Massachusetts (Mrs. Truong Thi Van Lan, President)
25. Women for Human Rights (Mrs. Jane Do Bui, Representative)
26. Former Graduates of Thu Duc Military Academy, Ontario, Canada (Mr. Tran Quoc Thien, President)
27. Former Political Prisoners & Communist Victims, France (Mr. Duong Van Loi, President)
28. Former Political Prisoners Association, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, Chapter (Mr. Tran Van Chinh, President)
29. Federation of Former Police Officers of the Republic of Vietnam, Europe (Mr. Pham Thin, President)
30. Declaration of 2000 Movement, Canada (Dr. Nguyen Ba Long, Representative)
31. National Movement for Reclaiming the Name Saigon (Rev. Nguyen Huu Le, Representative)
32. The Vietnamese Laity Movement in the Diaspora (Mr. Do Nhu Dien, Coordinator)
33. Hung Ca Movement (Mr. Huynh Luong Thien, Coordinator)
34. Assembly of Former Members of The Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam (Prof. Nguyen Xuan Vinh, President)
35. General Association of Former Political Prisoners (Mr. Nguyen Trung Chau, President)
36. Van Lang Vietnamese Language Center of Oakland, CA (Mr. Nguyen Khac Chuong, Coordinator)
37. Van Lang Vietnamese Language Center of San Jose, CA (Mr. Le Phuoc Tuan, Coordinator)
38. General Association of Former Members of the Naval Forces of the Republic of Vietnam (Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duc, President)
39. General Association of Former Members of the Academy of Psychological Welfare (Mr. Nguyen Xuan Muc, President)
40. European Central Committee of the Assembly of Former Members of the Armed Forces (Dr. Hoang Co Lan, President)
41. Vietnam Center, Hannover, Germany (Mr. Lam Dang Chau, Representative)
42. Committee to Protect the National Flag of the Republic of Vietnam, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (Mr. Cao Chanh Cuong, President)
43. Committee for Promoting the National Cause (Mr. Thai Hoa To, President)
44. Council for Human Rights in Vietnam (Mrs. Nguyen Hong-Lien, President)
45. Committee for Human Rights in Vietnam (Mr. Tran Quang Tuan, President)
46. Independent Studies Committee (Mr. Do Kiem, Coordinator)
47. Committee of Support to the Democracy Movement in Vietnam, Seattle, Washington State (Dr. Giap Phuc Dat, Chairman, Mr. Nguyen Quy An, Coordinator)
Community Organizations:
1. Vietnamese Community in the USA (Mr. Nguyen Van Tan, Chairman of the Representatives, Mr. Nguyen Bac Ai, Chairman of the Executive committee, Dr. Truong Ngoc Tich, Chairman of the Supersisory Committee)
2. Free Vietnamese Community of Australia (Dr. Nguyen Manh Tien, President)
3. Vietnamese Federation of Canada (Mr. Ngo Van Ut, Secretary General)
4. Vietnamese Community of Belgium (Mr. Le Huu Dao, Coordinator)
5. Vietnamese Refugee Community of Holland (Mr. Dr. Dao Cong Long, Coordinator)
6. Vietnamese Community of Arizona (Mr. Pham Van Sinh, President)
7. Vietnamese Community of Austin, Texas (Mr. David Nguyen, President)
8. Vietnamese Community of Central Florida (Mr. Chau Ngoc Anh, President)
9. Vietnamese Community of Dallas, Texas (Mr. Thai Hoa To, President)
10. Vietnamese Community of Florida (Mr. Chu Ba Yen, Chairman of the Board of Representatives, Mrs. Dong Thanh Ingalls, Chairwoman of the Executive Board)
11. Vietnamese Community of Fort Worth, Texas (Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, President)
12. Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinity (Mr. Do Minh Duc, President, Mr. Hoang Duy Hung, Esq., President-elect)
13. Vietnamese Community of Iowa (Mr. Pham Cang, President)
14. Vietnamese Community of Lancaster and Vicinity, PA (Mr. Le Van Chieu, President)
15. Vietnamese Community of Lincoln, Nebraska (Nguyen Xuan Dau, President)
16. Vietnamese Community of Los Angeles ( Mr. Nguyen Duy Nghieu, President)
17. Vietnamese Community of Minnesota (Miss Phuong Dao, President)
18. Vietnamese Community of New Hampshire (Mr. Cao Xuan Khai, President)
19. Vietnamese Community of North Eastern Pennsylvania (Mr. Do Duc Chien, spokesman)
20. Vietnamese Community of Northern California (Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tien, President)
21. Vietnamese Community of Oregon (Mr. Nguyen Bac Ai, President)
22. Vietnamese Community of Philadelphia and Vicinity (Mr. Nguyen Dinh Toan, President)
23. Vietnamese Community of Pomona Valley, CA (Dr. Vo Dinh Huu, President)
24. Vietnamese Community of San Antonio, TX (Mr. Nguyen Trong Can, President)
25. Vietnamese Community of Southern California (Dr. Nguyen Xuan Vinh, President)
26. Vietnamese Community of Southern Florida (Mr. Le Thanh Liem, President)
27. Vietnamese Community of Tampa Bay, Florida (Mr. Vu Dinh Vuong, President)
28. Vietnamese Community of Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia (Mr. Ly Van Phuoc, President)
29. Vietnamese Federation of San Diego, CA (Mr. Tran Hung Tiet, President)
30. Vietnamese Nationalist Community in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Mr. Tran Dinh Thang, President)
31. Vietnamese Nationalist Community of Charlotte, NC (Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, President)
32. Vietnamese Nationalist Community of Greenville, NC (Mr. Vo Phuong, President)
33. Vietnamese Nationalist Community of Holland, MO (Mr. Le Nghia, President)