Vietnam and its claiming of Ownership over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands

Abstract

This article aims at studying the study trend/writings on Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands in Vietnam society. It also aims at studying Vietnam and its claim of ownership over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands. For the above, the article aims at analyzing the point on which Vietnam claims its ownership over these islands, the point of its argument and through which set of information/evidence. The study found out that the phenomenon of conflict between Vietnam and China directly relates to the issue of claiming, from past to present, of sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands. The phenomenon has direct impact on the writing movement about these two islands among Vietnamese scholars as well as Vietnam’s governmental organizations. In particular, it has much impact in regard to the amount of writings that has increased and the content that stresses on justification of ownership over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.  In addition, the study finds out that Vietnam’s claiming of ownership over the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands signifies linkage of two subjects. As first subject, Vietnam claims (confirms) that “Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands belong to Vietnam”. On this subject, to support its own hypothesis, Vietnam has explored for information/evidences from different types of ancient documents such as geographical books, ancient maps as well as historical writings of different times. As second subject, Vietnam claims that “Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands have never been recorded in China’s history”, “They have never belonged to China”, and “China’s southernmost territory ends at Hainan (Hilam) Island.” To support its hypothesis and to counter China’s propositions that were used to justify China’s occupation of the islands, Vietnam has used China’s historical documents, governmental maps as well as different types of ancient maps.