Sea and island sovereignty should be taught at schools: major-general
Sea and island sovereignty issues should be taught at schools to raise awareness, said major-general Le Van Cuong in an interview concerning the Paracel (Hoang Sa) Islands.
According to major-general Cuong, “Students may know about Hung Kings, An Duong Vuong King and the Dinh, Le, Ly and Tran dynasties, but they do not know much about island and sea sovereignty."
He said he was invited by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam to chair a panel on sovereignty for the three consecutive years. He cited surveys of young groups by the Hanoi National University of Education saying that 80% to 90% of manual workers in Vietnam have no knowledge of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands. Meanwhile, 53% to 54% of students know very little. Even many cadres remain unaware.
“We say that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam, but we do not write books to inform people. This shows a lack of consistency. The education about sea and island sovereignty is better late than never,” he noted.
“Under the country’s constitutions, people have a right to be provided with information. We do not wish to provoke nationalism or fight against any country, but we have to protect our national sovereignty.”
Major-general Le Van Cuong highlighted the importance of the East Sea research, adding that every year China holds 50 conferences on these matters and 200 doctors and masters who specialise in the subject. the East Sea. Meanwhile, Vietnam holds only three conferences of this topic and is facing many difficulties in the training of doctors and masters.
The state should provide funds for East Sea education, Cuong noted.
