Recently, Vietnamese’s newspapers have stepped in, promptly informed and propagated among Vietnamese people the policies and views of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Government on Vietnam’s sovereignty over seas and islands. On June 23^rd, 1994, at its 5^th session, the IX National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam passed a Resolution on the ratification of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). The National Assembly reasserted Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos (Paracel and Spratly islands) and the policy of settling disputes over territorial sovereignty. The spirit of the policy is to solve disagreements related to the East Sea through peaceful negotiations based on equality, mutual trust and understanding, and respect for international law, especially UNCLOS 1982. This also includes respect for the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal countries over exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in the region. While making efforts to promote and negotiate to figure out a long-term solution, stakeholders in the East Sea need to maintain stability on the basis of keeping the status quo, avoid actions that may overcomplicate the situation, and refrain from the threat or use of force. The National Assembly emphasized the need to distinguish the issue of dispute settlement over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes from that of protecting other sea areas and continental shelf under Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction (which are already protected under principles and standards of UNCLOS 1982).

On the other hand, we also need to be vigilant against all schemes of hostile forces that taking advantage of disagreements over territorial sovereignty to worsen relations among neighboring countries, and distort the Communist Party of Vietnam's lines and State policies .

Over the past few years, Vietnam’s forces of press have done a good job of informing and propagating views and guidelines approved by the Communist Party of Vietnam, and policies and law adopted by the State to all Vietnamese people and international friends. However, besides the achieved results, the task of communicating and propagating sovereignty over seas and islands to all Vietnamese people still has certain limitations. The press has still not been proactive enough to publish relevant information due to the fear of sensitive issues in diplomatic relations with China and neighboring countries. The amount of information provided to Vietnamese people through the media is insufficient and infrequent. The press has not yet provided a special magazine or press column to regularly provide complete and up-to-date information on Vietnam's sovereignty over seas and islands for those interested. At the same time, a small portion of Vietnamese people are bewildered by the incitements and riots of the reactionary forces, which is caused by the fact that the mainstream press has not done well its task of propagating, educating and guiding public opinion, etc...

The book "Journalism and its mission to protect Viet Nam’s sovereignty over seas and islands" is edited by Dr. Tran Van Thach from Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. The book analyzes theoretical issues about the role of the press in informing the people about the sovereignty of Vietnam over seas and archipelagos. Besides, the book discusses the practice of media on that issue by narrating the norm and recommending the changes for enhancement.

The book was published by Political Theory Publishing House in September 2020. 

The Electronic Portal of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics introduces the book to you with sincere!

Author: Binh Nguyen