Nguyen Phuong Nga, deputy head of the Press and Information Department, stated this when answering questions from reporters in Hanoi on June 25 after the spokesman for the US Department of State had strongly criticised the arrest of Le Cong Dinh and demanded that Vietnam free the ex-lawyer immediately and unconditionally.

“This is contrary to the US’s commitment already enshrined in a joint statement signed by the two countries’ top leaders, saying the US respects the national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Vietnam. So this has aroused widespread indignation amongst the Vietnamese people,” said Ms Nga.

According to her, the relevant Vietnamese agencies met with representatives from the US government to make the issues clear and requested that the US should not interfere in Vietnam’s internal affairs.