Sam Rainsy’s groundless statement under fire

Sam Rainsy, the runner-up of the recent Cambodian parliamentary election, stated in an interview with several international media agencies that Hanoi transgressed Cambodia’s territory.

His statement is groundless because Vietnam and Cambodia have a time-honoured friendship and good neighbourly relationship, which has been nurtured and consolidated by generations of Vietnamese and Cambodians. The past struggle for national independence and freedom has bound the two countries in their common effort for peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Sam Rainsy made groundless statements detrimental to Vietnam-Cambodia relations (Photo:AP)

The Vietnamese people have stood shoulder to shoulder with Cambodians in various periods of historical upheavals, especially helping them get rid of the Pol Pot Khmer Rouge genocidal regime and develop their economy.

The Vietnamese Party and State attach great importance to developing and consolidating the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia. Bilateral cooperative ties have developed steadily in all areas over recent years. Both countries worked closely together in border demarcation and marker planting toward building a shared border line of peace, stability, cooperation, and development. 

Vietnam is happy with the successful parliamentary election on July 28, and hopes that Cambodia will soon be able to establish a new parliament and government for its own stability and development, contributing to regional peace and solidarity.

It is clear to all and sundry that Sam Rainsy’s groundless statement causes harm to not only Vietnam-Cambodia relations but also the close bond formed by the blood and tears of both peoples.

Sam Rainsy even made misleading information about territorial sovereignty concerning recent sea disputes in the region. BBC Vietnamese Service quoted Sam Rainsy in a cambodia article published in a Chinese language newspaper that all islands that China is protecting belong to China.

Sam Rainsy’s statement is, once again, groundless and unacceptable. Vietnam has sufficient legal and historical evidence to prove its undisputed sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

The country’s consistent policy is to resolve East Sea disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

Vietnam always wants to join hands with neighbouring countries to contribute to regional peace, stability and development. Its aspirations and efforts have been recognised by the international community. As a politician, Sam Rainsy must be well aware of that.  

Sam Rainsy, of course, has the right to make his own statements and statements for his Cambodia National Rescue Party. But if his words contradict history and affect the bond between the Vietnamese and Cambodian people, they will certainly not be welcomed and accepted by the domestic and international public.     

Sam Rainsy’s political calculations and his groundless statements need to be condemned.