A photo exhibition on Vietnam’s seas and archipelagos is underway in the Polish city of Lodz, providing local visitors an in-depth look at the country’s marine sovereignty.

The 36 exhibits include ancient maps made by the UK, Belgium, Portugal and Vietnam that testify to the Southeast Asian nation’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.

The discussion on Vietnam's marine sovereignty as part of the exhibition. Photo: Vietnam+

Some of the photos reflect China’s illegal positioning of the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, its illicit reclamation of islands and reefs in the East Sea, and the deployment of missiles on Phu Lam (Woody) Island of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago.

The daily life of Vietnamese soldiers and residents on islands, reefs and platforms in Truong Sa is also featured.

As part of the exhibition, a discussion was held with the participation of Rafal Tomanski – a reporter of Poland’s Rzeczpospolita newspaper, Polish former parliamentarian Piotr Gadzinowski, and La Duc Trung – deputy director of the Polish institute of science and culture of Vietnam.

The attendees looked into the East Sea disputes, developments in the waters (including China’s island reclamation, illegal flights and oil rig placement), and recent tensions caused by China in the East Sea.

The exhibition, scheduled to last through April 18, is organized by the University of Lodz and the local chapters of the Vietnamese people and students’ associations.

Source: VNA