BẠCH THƯ của VIỆT NAM CỘNG HÒA về HAI QUẦN ĐẢO HOÀNG SA &
TRƯỜNG SA
White Paper on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly)
Islands
Republic
of Vietnam
Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
Saigon,
1975
Foreword
The Vietnamese archipelagoes of Hoang Sa (Paracel)
and Truong Sa (Spratly) are both situated in the South China Sea off the
Republic of Vietnam's shore. Their very modest size by no means lesser the
importance given them by the Vietnamese: to Vietnamese hearts, these remote
insular territories are as dear as could be any other part of the fatherland.
The Hoang Sa Islands to the North were occupied by force of arms by the
People's Republic of China on January 20, 1974, following a brazen act of
invasion which left the world extremely indignant. As for the Truong Sa Islands
500 km to the South, two other foreign powers are illegally stationing troops
on four of the main islands in the archipelago.
The Government of the Republic of Vietnam and the
Vietnamese people, determined to defend their sovereignty and the territorial
integrity of the country, solemnly denounce the occupation of these Vietnamese
territories by foreign troops. Regarding the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, not
only was the gross violation of Vietnamese sovereignty by the People's Republic
of China a defiance of the law of nations and the Charter of the United
Nations: in-as-much as this involved the use of force by a world power against
a small country in Asia, it also constitutes a threat to peace and stability in
South East Asia In the case of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, although
foreign occupation was not preceded by bloodshed, it nevertheless represents a
grave violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Vietnam. The
rights of the Vietnamese people over those islands have been as firmly
established there as on the Hoang Sa archipelago.
The Republic of Vietnam fulfils all the conditions
required by international law to assert its claim to possession of these
islands. Throughout the course of history, the Vietnamese had already
accomplished the gradual consolidation of their rights on the Hoang Sa Islands.
By the early 19th century, a systematic policy of effective occupation was
implemented by Vietnamese emperors The Truong Sa Islands, known to and
exploited by Vietnamese fishermen and laborers for many centuries, were
formally incorporated into Vietnamese territory by France on behalf of Vietnam.
On both archipelagoes, Vietnamese civil servants assured a peaceful and
effective exercise of Vietnamese jurisdiction. The continuous display of state
authority was coupled with the constant Vietnamese will to remain the owner of
a legitimate title over those islands. Thus military defense of the
archipelagoes and diplomatic activities were put forth in the face of false
claims from other countries in the area. Vietnamese rights being indisputable,
the People's Republic of China chose to resort to military force in order to
assert her sudden claims to the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands. Two other foreign powers
took advantage of the war situation in Vietnam to militarily occupy some of the
Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands over which they have no legal rights. Since both
the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagoes are situated below the 17th parallel,
this is primarily a matter of concern for the Republic of Vietnam.
This White Paper is designed to demonstrate the
validity of the claims made by the Republic of Vietnam. It is also an appeal
for justice to the conscience of all law-abiding and peace-loving nations in the
world.
Proclamation by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam (1974)
The noblest and most imperative task of a Government
is to defend the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the
Nation. The Government of the Republic of Vietnam is determined to carry out
this task, regardless of difficulties it may encounter and regardless of
unfounded objections wherever they may come from.
In the face of the illegal military occupation by
Communist China of the Paracels Archipelago which is an integral part of the
Republic of Vietnam, the Government of the Republic of Vietnam deems it
necessary to solemnly declare before world opinion, to friends and foes alike,
that :
The Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly)
archipelagoes are an indivisible part of the territory of the Republic of
Vietnam. The Government and People of the Republic of Vietnam shall not yield
to force and renounce all or part of their sovereignty over those
archipelagoes.
As long as one single island of that part of the
territory of the Republic of Vietnam is forcibly occupied by another country,
the Government and People of the Republic will continue their struggle to
recover their legitimate rights.
The illegal occupant will have to bear all
responsibility for any tension arising wherefrom (therefrom).
On this occasion, the Government of the Republic of
Vietnam also solemnly reaffirms the sovereignty of the Republic of Vietnam over
the islands off the shores of Central and South Vietnam, which have been
consistently accepted as a part of the territory of the Republic of Vietnam on
the basis of undeniable geographic, historical and legal evidence and on
account of realities.
The Government of the Republic of Vietnam is
determined to defend the sovereignty of the Nation over those islands by all
and every means.
In keeping with its traditionally peaceful policy,
the Government of the Republic of Vietnam is disposed to solve, through
negotiations, international disputes which may arise over those islands, but
this does not mean that it shall renounce its sovereignty over any part of its
national territory.
(Proclamation by the Government of the Republic of
Vietnam dated February 14, 1974)
CHAPTER
I
The Early Historical Rights of Vietnam
The Vietnamese have had knowledge of the Hoang Sa
Islands long before the arrival to the South China Sea of Westerners who
publicized internationally the name of "Paracels" for this part of
their territory. It has been scientifically determined that the Vietnamese
presence on this archipelago started in the 15th century. The systematic
exploitation of the islands' resources started early and gradually developed
Vietnamese interest in these territories, leading in the 18th century to
official state decision such as the formation of the Hoang Sa Company to ensure
a rational exploitation of those islands. As evidenced by reliable Vietnamese
and foreign sources, Vietnam progressively asserted her rights and the Hoang Sa
archipelago was formally taken possession of the Vietnamese authorities in the
year 1816.
Geographic position.
The Hoang Sa Archipelago is a string of islets off
the Vietnamese coast between 111 and 113 degrees longitude East of Greenwich,
and between 15045' and 17015' North latitude. The nearest
island in the archipelago is roughly at equal distance from the coast of
Vietnam and the southern shore of Hainan Island in China. Using Pattle Island
(dao Hoang Sa), the largest of the group, as a point of reference, the
distances are as follows:
Pattle to the Vietnamese harbor of Danang: 200
nautical miles. (Pattle to the closest shore of Cu Lao Re' Vietnam: 123
nautical miles).
Pattle to the closest shore on Hainan (Island): 150
nautical miles.
Pattle to the closest shore in the Philippines: 450
nautical miles.
Pattle to the closest shore in Taiwan: 620 nautical
miles.
The Hoang Sa Islands are divided into two groups: to
the East lies the Tuyen Duc (or Amphitrite) Group and to the West lies the
Nguyet Thiem (or Crescent) Group. The main islands are:
Tuyen Duc Group:
Dao Bac-North Island
Dao Trung - Middle Island
Dao Nam - South Island
Phu Lam-Wooded Island (French: Ile Boisee)
Hon Da - Rocky Island
Dao Linh Con -Lincoln Island
Dao Cu Moc-Tree Island
Con Nam - South Bank
Nguyet Thiem Group:
Dao Hoang Sa - Pattle Island
Dao Cam Tuyen - Robert Island
Dao Vinh Lac- Money Island
Dao Quang Hoa - Duncan Island
Dao Duy Mong - Drummond Island
Dao Bach Qui - Passu Keah Island
Dao Tri Ton - Triton Island.
Apart from Pattle, the only other large island is
Phu Lam or Wooded Island in the Amphitrite Group. The total surface area of the
isles in both Groups barely exceeds 10 square kilometers or about 5 square
miles. Most Islets were originally coral reefs and have the appearance of bare
sand-banks, except for Wooded Island and Pattle Island, which is known for its
coconut trees. The islands are surrounded by rings of reefs which make the
approach by vessels very dangerous. An abundance of tortoises, sea slugs and
other marine creatures are found there. Rich beds of phosphate have been
produced by the interaction of the sea birds' guano with tropical rains and the
coral limestone. The climate on the archipelago is marked by constant humidity
and little variation in mean temperatures. In economic terms, the Hoang Sa
Islands have been frequented long ago by Vietnamese fishermen and in recent
times have attracted many companies exploiting phosphate .
First Vietnamese document on the Hoang Sa Islands.
Evidence showing Vietnamese sovereignty over the
Hoang Sa Islands extends back over three hundred years. The oldest Vietnamese
document on this part of the national heritage is the work done sometime
between 1630 and 1653 by a scholar named Do Ba and also known under the penname
of Dao Phu. It is a series of maps of Viet Nam which constitutes the third part
of the "Hong Duc Atlas" (1): the Atlas started under the reign of
Emperor Le Thanh Tong alias Hong Duc (1460-1497). Notes accompanying the maps
clearly indicate that as far back as the early 17th century, Vietnamese
authorities had been sending, on a regular basis, ships and men to these
islands, which at that time were named " Cat Vang " (both " Cat
Vang" and "Hoang Sa" mean " yellow sand "). These are
the islands now known internationally by the name " Paracels ".
The following is the translation of Do Ba's remarks:
"At the village of Kim Ho, on both banks of the
river, stand two mountains each containing a gold deposit exploited under
government control. On the high sea, a 400-ly long and 200-ly large archipelago
(2) called " Bai Cat Vang " (Yellow sand banks) emerges from the deep
sea facing the coastline between the harbor of Dai Chiem and the harbor of Sa
Vinh (3). During the South-West monsoon season, commercial ships from various
countries sailing near the coasts often wreck on the insular territories. The
same thing happens during the North-East monsoon season to those ships sailing
on the high sea. All the people on board wrecked ships in this area would
starve. Various kinds of wrecked cargoes are amassed on these islands. Each
year during the last month of winter, the Nguyen rulers send to the islands an
18-junk flotilla in order to salvage them. They obtain big quantities of gold,
silver, coins, rifles and ammunitions. From the harbor of Dai Chiem the
archipelago is reached after a journey of one-and-a-half day, while one day
suffices if one embarks from Sa Ky. (4) "
Although geographical descriptions of former times
are not as precise as they are now, it is clear from the above that the "
yellow sand" or Hoang Sa Islands have been part of the economic heritage
of the Empire of Vietnam at least before 1653, the latest year when Do Ba could
have completed his map drawing. Moreover, an eminent Vietnamese historian and
scholar, Vo Long Te, has been able to determine that. taking into account other
factors in the Do Ba's text (e.g. historical references and linguistic style),
the salvage expeditions described therein actually started in the 15th century
(5).
First evidence from foreign sources.
Vietnamese scholars are not the only people to
record that Vietnam, formerly known as the 'empire of Annam', had early
displayed state authority over the Hoang Sa Islands. Actually, foreign sources
have been even more accurate in regard to the dates concerning Vietnamese
sovereignty. As presented above, on the basis of the Do Ba document, economic
exploitation of the Hoang Sa Islands by Vietnamese started, at least, before
1653. However as early as 1634, the Journal of Batavia. Published by the Dutch
East Indies Company, recorded incidents showing that Vietnamese jurisdiction was
then already recognized by citizens of other countries.
According to the Journal of Batavia published in
1634-1636, (6) on July 20, 1634, three Dutch ships named Veenhuizen, Schagen
(7) and Grootebroek left Touron (present-day Da Nang) on their way to Formosa,
after having come from Batavia (present-day Djakarta). On the 21st, the three
ships were caught in a tempest and lost contact with one another. The
Veenhuizen arrived in Formosa on August 2 and the Schagen. on August 10. But
the Grootebroek capsized near the Paracel Islands, north of the 17th Parallel.
Of the cargo estimated at 153,690 florins, only 82,995 florin-worth of goods
severe recovered by the surviving crew; the rest went down to the bottom of the
sea. Of the ship's company nine men were also missing.
After he had taken every disposition to have the
remains of the cargo safely stored on the islands, under the guard of 50
sailors, the captain of the Grootebroek took to sea with another 12 sailors and
headed toward the Vietnamese coast to seek help in the realm of the Nguyen
Lords. However, when the group reached the mainland, they were taken prisoners
by fishermen and their money was confiscated. This led to a dispute with the
Vietnamese authorities. The dispute resulted in further visits by Dutch ships
to the Vietnamese Court (and ultimately, to the granting of free trade rights
to Dutchmen and the establishment of the first Dutch factory in Vietnam, headed
by Abraham Duijcker). For our purposes here, however, the significant fact was
that, when the Grootebroek sank, the sailors chose to go to Vietnam instead of
China, although China was nearer. This is undoubtedly because they assumed the
country exercising jurisdiction over the site of the wreckage would naturally
provide rescue and be more responsive to their claims.
Testimony by Vietnamese historian Le Qui Don.
Other references to the early historical rights of
Vietnam over the Hoang Sa Islands (called " Pracels" in the Journal
of Batavia account) are made by the Encyclopedist Le Qui Don (1726-1784) in his
history work Phu Bien Tap Luc (Miscellaneous Records on the Pacification of the
Frontiers). Le Qui Don was a mandarin sent to the South by the Court in order
to serve as administrator in the realm recently taken over by the Court from the
Nguyen Lords (hence the appellation of "Frontier Provinces" for these
lands in the title of the book).
In his work, Le Qui Don recorded many of the things
he saw or heard while on duty in the southern realm. As a consequence, there
were several references to the islands belonging to the Nguyen realm. The most
extensive and precise reference to the Paracel Islands occurs on pages where it
is said:
" The village of An Vinh, Binh Son District,
Quang Ngai Prefecture, is close by the sea. To the northeast (of the village)
there are many islands and miscellaneous rock heads jutting out of the sea,
totaling 130 altogether. From the rock heads out to the islands, it sometimes
takes a day (by sea) or at least a few watches. On top of the rocks there
sometimes are freshwater springs. Linking the islands is a vast strip of yellow
sand of over 30 ly in length, a flat and vast expanse where the water is clear
and can be seen through to the bottom."
On a following page, the fauna and flora of the
Paracels are described in detail, thus allowing one to compare them with later
scientific descriptions made in the twentieth century: sea-swallows and their
valuable nests (among the thousands of varieties of birds found on the
islands), giant conches called "elephant-ear conches ",
mother-of-pearls, giant tortoises and smaller varieties of turtles, sea
urchins, and so forth.
Regarding the usefulness of these islands and their
exploitation, Le Qui Don has this to say: "When they encounter strong
winds, large sea-going ships usually take shelter in these islands ,".
"In the past, the Nguyen had created a Hoang Sa
Company of 70 men, made up of people from An Vinh village. Every year they take
turns in going out to the sea, setting out during the first month of the lunar
calendar in order to receive instructions regarding their mission. Each man in
the company is given six months worth of dry food. They row in five fishing
boats and it takes them three days before they reach the islands. They are free
to collect anything they want, to catch the birds as they see fit and to fish
for food. They (sometimes) find the wreckage of ships which yield such things
as bronze swords and copper horses, silver decorations and money, silver rings
and other copper products, tin ingots and lead, guns and ivory, golden bee-hive
tallow, felt blankets, pottery and so forth. They also collect turtle shells,
sea urchins and striped conches in huge quantities.
"This Hoang Sa Company does not come home until
the eighth month of the year. They go to Phu Xuan (present-day Hue) to turn in
the goods they have collected in order to have them weighed and verified, then
get an assessment before they can proceed to sell their striped conches, sea
turtles and urchins. Only then is the Company issued a certificate with which
they can go home. These annual collections sometimes can be very fruitful and
at other times more disappointing, it depends on the year. It sometimes happens
that the company can go out and return empty-handed.
"I (Le Qui Don) have had the opportunity to
check the records of the former Count of Thuyen Duc and found the following
results:
" In the year of Nham Ngo (1702), the Hoang Sa
Company collected 30 silver ingots.
" In the year of Giap Than (1704), 5,l00
catties of tin were brought in.
" In the year of At Dau (1704), 126 ingots of
silver were collected.
" From the year of Ky Suu (1709) to the year of
Quy Ti (1713) i.e. during five consecutive years, the company managed to
collect only a few catties of tortoise shell and sea urchins. At one time, all
they collected included a few bars of tin a few stone bowls and two bronze
cannons ".
It is clear from the above that in the eighteenth
century at least, the Nguyen Lords of southern Vietnam were very much concerned
with the economic possibilities of the Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands and in fact
actually organized the annual exploitation of this archipelago. The fact that
no counterclaims were made by any other nation is patent proof that the
Nguyen's' sovereign rights over the islands were not challenged by any country.
Elsewhere in the book, Le Qui Don also records an
incident dating from 1753 which throws some light over the question of
Chinese-Vietnamese relationships regarding the Paracel Islands. " The
shores of the Hoang Sa Islands are not far from Lien-chou Prefecture in Hainan
Province, China. (For that reason) our ships sometimes meet with fishing boats
from our Northern neighbor (China) on the high sea. Ship-mates from both
countries inquire about one another in the midst of the ocean... On one occasion,
there was a report coming from the hall officer in charge of sea traffic
investigations in Wen-ch'ang District, Ch'iung-chou Prefecture (Hainan Island,
China), which says: " In the eighteenth year of Ch'ien-lung (1753), ten
soldiers from An Binh Village belonging to the Cat Liem Company, District of
Chuong Nghia, Quang Ngai Prefecture, Annam, set out during, the seventh month
to go to the Van Ly Truong Sa (7) to collect sea products. Eight of the ten men
went ashore for the collection of products, and two remained on the ship to
watch it. A typhoon soon developed w which caused the anchor cord to split, and
the two who remained in the ship were washed into the port of Ch'ing-lan. After
investigation the Chinese officer found the story to be correct and consequently
had the two Vietnamese escorted home to their native village . Lord Nguyen Phuc
Chu subsequently had the Governor of Thuan Hoa (present-day Thua Thien)
Province, the Count of Thuc Luong, write a courtesy note to the hall officer of
Wen-ch'ang to acknowledge his help. "
This story illustrates a number of points, besides
the general civility of intercourse already evinced at the time between China
and Vietnam. It is apparent from the story that the Chinese officer from
Wen-ch'ang was not bothered by the fact that the Vietnamese were intruding into
Chinese territorial waters when they went to the Van Ly Truong Sa. The only
concern of the officer was to find out whether the statements made by the two
Vietnamese sailors had any basis in fact. In other words, the Chinese officer
was only worried about the possibility of the Vietnamese being spies sent into
Hainan under the pretense of a storm encountered at sea. When this was
disproved, the Chinese immediately had the Vietnamese released and dealt with them
very kindly by having them escorted home. The whole incident clearly proves
that Vietnamese exploitation of the economic resources on the Paracels in the
eighteenth century was a very open activity, carried out peacefully and
acknowledged by the Chinese to be an exercise of legitimate rights over the
islands.
A famous geography book written by Phan Huy Chu and
printed in l834 by the name of Hoang Viet Dia Du Chi contains a text on the
Hoang Sa Islands which does not present much that is new in comparison to the
information in Le Qui Don's work. Only two minor differences are found:
-The Hoang Sa Company, according to this
geographical work, was still composed of 70 men from An Vinh Village. However,
they receive dry food and get instruction to go out to sea in the third month
of the lunar calendar (rather than in the first, as recorded by Le Qui Don.
They begin their return journey in the sixth month.
-In the eight month, they arrive home through the
port of Eo (Thuan An).
From the above, it can be seen that exploitation of
the Paracel Islands was becoming an operation of diminishing return in the
early nineteenth century, thus necessitating an excursion of two months only,
instead of the six-month excursion needed in the eighteenth century. However
Vietnamese interests in the islands were not merely economic, as can be seen in
the following testimonies.
Confirmation by other foreign sources.
Various foreign authors confirmed that the Hoang Sa
Islands were fully part of the Vietnamese territory as early as the 18th
century. For instance, testimony in 1701 by a missionary traveling on the
Amphitrite (reportedly the first French ship to enter South-China Sea late in
the 17th century) describing frightening dangers experienced by
ships in the vicinity of the Paracels, mentioned specifically that this
archipelago be-longed to the Empire of Annam i.e., a former name for Vietnam
(8).
Another document dated April 10, 1768 and called
"Note sur l'Asie demandee par M. de la Borde a M. d'Estaing" (now
held in French archives) (9) provides evidence of intense patrol operations
between the Paracels and the coast of Vietnam by Vietnamese naval units. When
French Admiral d'Estaing was planning a raid against the Vietnamese city of Hue
in order to set a French establishment in Indochina, he reported that
Vietnamese vessels frequently cruised between the Paracels and the coast and
thus, "would have reported about his approach ". This fact apparently
caused him to cancel the raid planned against Vietnam. This demonstrates that
as long as two centuries ago, the Hoang Sa Islands were already included in the
Vietnamese system of defense and that the most evident acts in the exercise of
state jurisdiction were regularly performed by Vietnamese authorities.
In the same document, Admiral d'Estaing also gave
various detailed descriptions of the defense installations on the shore. He
wrote that "the Hue citadel contained 1,200 cannons, of which 800 were
made of bronze, many bearing the arms of Portugal and the date 1661. There were
also some smaller pieces (bearing the arms of Cambodia and the monogram of the
British Company of India) that had been salvaged from driftwood of wrecked
vessels in the Paracels."
In another proposal made in 1758-59 for a French
attempt against Vietnam and presented in his Memoire pour une entreprise sur la
Cochinchine proposee a M. de Magon par M. d'Estaing (10), admiral d'Estaing
made another mention of the Hoang Sa Islands in his description of the defense
of Lord Vo Vuong's palace. Built on the bank of a river, he reported "the
palace was surrounded by an 8 to 9-foot high wall without any kind of
fortification. There were many cannons that were designed for decoration,
rather than for use. Admiral d'Estaing put the number of cannons at 400, many
being Portuguese pieces "taken here from ships wrecked on the Paracels.
"
In a book published in London in 1806: "A
Voyage To Cochinchina", John Barrow told the story of a British journey to
Vietnam and indicated that the Paracels were part of the Vietnamese economic world.
The journey described in the book was made by Count Maccartney, then British
Envoy to the Chinese Court. Leaving England on September 2, 1792, Count
Maccartney stopped in Tourane (Danang) between May 24 and June 16, 1793 in
order to enter into contact with the King of Cochinchina. The 3-week long stay
gave John Barrow leisure to study Vietnamese vessels. Therefore, he provided in
his book a detailed description of different types of boats used by the
Cochinchinese in order to reach, among other places, the Paracel Islands where
they collected trepang and swallow nests (11).
Thus Vietnamese and foreign sources agree that the
Hoang Sa Islands have for centuries been included within the scope of
Vietnamese interests and aims. These sources recognize the perfection of the
sovereign title upheld by the Vietnamese in the course of time in relation to a
growing number of states. The progressive intensification of Vietnamese control
over the Hoang Sa Islands reached a decisive and irreversible point at the beginning
of the 19th century, when the reigning Nguyen dynasty developed a systematic
policy toward complete integration of the archipelago into the national
community.
CHAPTER
II
THE EXERCISE OF VIETNAMESE SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE HOANG SA ISLANDS
Historical consolidation of the Vietnamese title to
the Hoang Sa Islands continued under the Nguyen dynasty' i.e., after 1802. From
that date, it is possible to speak of a Paracel policy , by the successive
emperors of Vietnam as manifested through systematic measures taken in the
fields of administration, defense,. transports and economic exploitation.
Formal taking of possession by Emperor Gia Long.
The first emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, Gia Long,
consecrated the will of the Vietnamese to confirm their sovereignty over the
Hoang Sa Islands by formally taking possession of the archipelago. According to
various historic sources, in the year 1816 the Vietnamese flag was planted in a
formal ceremony on the Paracels. In 1837 the Reverend, Jean-Louis Taberd, then
Bishop of Isauropolis, wrote the following in his "Note on the Geography
of Cochinchina printed in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal,
India, (12):
"The Pracel or Paracels is a labyrinth
of small islands, rocks and sand-banks, which appears to extend up to the 11st
degree of north latitude, in the 107th parallel of longitude from Paris. Some
navigators have traversed part of these shoals with a boldness
more fortunate than prudent, but others have suffered in the attempt. The
Cochin Chinese called them Con-Vang. Although this kind of archipelago presents
nothing but rocks and great depths which promise more inconveniences than advantages,
the king GIA LONG thought he had increased his dominions by this
sorry addition. In 1816, he went with solemnity to plant his flag and
take formal possession of these rocks, which it is not likely any body
will dispute with him."
The Reverend Jean Louis Taberd was not the only one
to give testimony in support of Vietnamese sovereignty over the Paracels.
Another foreigner, a Frenchman who spent many years in the Far East and who was
a contemporary eyewitness, wrote (13):
"Cochinchina, of which the sovereign king today
carries the title of Emperor, includes Cochinchina proper, Tonkin: a few
scarcely inhabited islands not far from the coastline and the Paracel
archipelago made up of islets, coral reefs and uninhabited rocks. It was
in 1816 that the present Emperor (Gia Long) took possession of this
archipelago."
Consolidation of sovereignty under subsequent emperors.
Numerous documents in Vietnamese archives give the
most convincing facts about the display of the Nguyen dynasty's authority over
the Hoang Sa Islands. One of the striking facts was the order given in 1833 by
Emperor Minh Mang to his minister of Public Work to plant trees on some of
these islands because "trees will grow up and will offer a luxuriant
vegetation that would allow navigators to reconnoiter these vicinities so to
avoid having their ships being wrecked in these not very deep waters. This will
be for the profit of ten thousand generations to come" (14). Considering
the fact that most ships that sank in the area were foreign-owned, there is no
doubt that the Vietnamese executed this act to meet their international
responsibilities. Thus, by offering certain guarantees to other states and
their nationals, by being an identifiable addressee of international claims
regarding the Hoang Sa Islands, Vietnam further asserted her title to the
property of these territories (15).
One year later, in 1834, the same emperor Minh Mang
sent Garrison Commander Truong Phuc Si and 20 other men to the Hoang Sa
archipelago in order to make a map of the area (16). This mission apparently
was not carried out to the satisfaction of officials in the Ministry of Public
Works who, two years later, reported to the Emperor that because of the size of
the area, " only one island had been drawn on a map which is not as
precise and detailed as we would wish ". The report added that since these
islands were "of great strategic importance to our maritime borders",
it would be appropriate to send out missions each year in order to explore the
whole archipelago and to get accustomed to the sea routes there.
The report further pointed out that all the islands,
islets and mere sand-banks must be surveyed in order to get a description of
their relief and size, and to determine coordinates and distances. The Emperor
approved the recommendations and sent a Navy team to the Hoang Sa Islands for
the purposes set in the report (1836). Ten markers were taken along on the
vessel to be planted on the islands which the team would reconnoiter. On each
marker was the inscription: "In the year Binh Than, 17th Year of the reign
of Minh Mang, Navy Commander Pham Huu Nhat, commissioned by the Emperor to Hoang
Sa to conduct map surveyings, landed at this place and planted this marker so
to perpetuate the memory of the event" (17). The data gathered in
the survey were used in the drawing of the remarkable "Detailed map of the
Dai Nam " (see Fig. 8) (18) achieved circa 1838. Although not locating the
two archipelagoes of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa at their proper place, the "
Detailed Map " had the merit of mentioning these archipelagoes
specifically by their names. The islands later known as Paracels and Spratlys
were then clearly and indisputably considered parts of the Vietnamese
territory.
In other action lying within the normal display of
state jurisdiction. Emperor Minh Mang ordered, in the 16th year of his reign
(1835), the building of a temple on one of the Hoang Sa Islands. The following
is recorded in Vietnamese annals ( 19) : "Among the Hoang Sa Islands
located in the territorial waters of Quang Nghia (present day Quang Nam)
Province, there exists the island of Bach Sa (white-sand island) where the
vegetation is luxuriant. In the middle of the island is a well and in its
South-West part, a temple with a sign on which is, engraved the sentence ,
"Van Ly Ba Binh" - ( the waves calm down over ten thousand leagues ).
To the North of this isle is another one built with coral with a perimeter
measuring 340 truong 2 xich and an altitude of 1 truong 3 thuoc (20). It is as
high as the Island of White-Sand and called Ban Than Thach (21). Last year
(1834), it was the intention of the Emperor to build there a temple and a
stele, but the project was postponed because of unfavorable winds and waves.
This year, the Emperor ordered Navy Commander Pham Van Nguyen to head an
Elephant Garrison Detachment and boatmen hired in the provinces of Quang Nghia
and Binh Dinh to transport materials for the purpose of building a temple on
that island. This temple is 7 truong distant from the old one, and has a stone
mark to its left and a brick screen in front. Upon completion of the work which
lasted 10 days, the team returned home" (22). Another document indicates
that the stone mark just mentioned was 1 thuoc 5 tac high and 1 thuoc 2 tac
wide (23). Under the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, communications between the
Hoang Sa islands and the mainland were intense enough to justify the construction
of a temple dedicated to the Gods of Hoang Sa right on the beach of Quang Ngai
in 1835. That city was a main harbour from which boats going to these islands
originated (24).
Time has probably erased traces of these works
performed almost 140 years ago and for which light materials were largely used.
But all the Vietnamese documents quoted are official publications kept until
now in Vietnamese archives or prestigious foreign institutions. These reliable
recordings of facts in Vietnam's national life demonstrate clearly that one of
the major concerns of the Nguyen emperors' territorial policy was to
consolidate sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands. As a result, Vietnamese
jurisdiction became so obvious that contemporary foreign witnesses never thought
of it as a contested matter. We already mentioned Bishop Jean-Louis Taberd's
and J.B. Chaigneau's testimonies, but other foreign publications of the 19th
Century also recognized the Vietnamese possession : a western map drawn in 1838
showed the - Paracel or Cat Vang Islands as part of the Annam Empire (5). A
geography book written under the auspices of the (French) Ethnography Society
mentioned the Paracels or Kat Vang as one of the very numerous islands and
archipelagoes belonging to Vietnam (26). It must be stressed that all French
works quoted had been produced at a time when the French did not yet control
Vietnam and, therefore, had no interest in defending French claims to
sovereignty over these islands.
Preservation of rights under French colonial rule.
In the second half of the 19th century, the Southern
part of Vietnam, named Cochinchina, became a French possession (1867). This was
followed by the establishment of a French protectorate over the remaining
Vietnamese territory (1883). Therefore the French temporarily took over the
responsibility to defend the territorial integrity of the "Annam
Empire". On behalf of Vietnam, the French continued the normal exercise of
sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands (Paracels).
They did fulfill their responsibilities. Although
kept busy by the task of strengthening their authority on the Indochina
mainland, the French colonial government did not forget the far-off islands and
took all the necessary measures to ensure an orderly administration, an
adequate defense and a better knowledge of what a French author called in 1933
"the infinitely small Paracels of our colonial domain" (27). The
Vietnamese title to sovereignty was not only preserved, it was reinforced. On
the other hand, numerous scientific studies about the islands were produced
which could only be conducted if the Paracels were firmly under
French-Vietnamese control.
The international responsibility that the Nguyen
emperors had already accepted in regard to navigation of foreign vessels was
not neglected by the French, who completed in 1899 a feasibility study for the
construction of a lighthouse on one of the Hoang Sa Islands. Unfortunately,
this project, which was supported by Indochina Governor General Paul Doumer,
could not be realized for lack of funds. However, French patrol vessels assured
the security of sea traffic and conducted many rescue operations for wrecked
foreign ships in the Paracel. Beginning in 1920, apparently worried by the
suspect presence of various kinds of vessels in the Hoang Sa area, the
Indochinese customs authorities started making regular inspections to the
islands for the purpose of checking illegal traffic. As early as the end of
World War I, the French control was so evident that Japanese nationals called
on French Indochina's authorities for the exploitation of phosphate. This was
the case of the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Company, which extracted phosphates for
many years from two islands, Ile Boisee (Phu Lam) and Ile Roberts (Cam Tuyen).
The Japanese Government, on its part, implicitly recognized French jurisdiction
in 1927. In a report to the Minister of Colonies in Paris dated March 20, 1930,
the French Governor of Indochina wrote that in 1927, the Japanese consul in
Hanoi, Mr. Kurosawa, was instructed by his government to inquire with the
French authorities about the status of some groups of islands in the South
China Sea. But the Consul declared that, according to instructions from the
Japanese Government, the Paracels were expressly left outside of the
discussions, the question of ownership of these islands not being a matter of
dispute with France (Japan was then involved in controversies over the Truong
Sa or Spratly Islands).
The French jurisdiction was sufficiently firm and
peaceful to permit such actions as the conduct of scientific surveys on the
islands. An impressive list of superior-level scientific studies in all- fields
was made available by colonial institutions or private authors. Starting in
1925, with the first recorded scientific mission on the vessel De Lanessan by
scientists from the famed Oceanographic Institute of Nha Trang, knowledge about
this part of Vietnamese territory increased. The trip by the De Lanessan
confirmed the existence of rich beds of phosphate, which became the object of
many detailed studies. For example:
- Maurice Clerget, Contribution a l'etude des
iles Paracels; les phosphates. Nhatrang, Vietnam 1932.
- A. Lacroix, Les ressources minerales de la
France d'Outre-Mer, tome IV (Paracels' phosphate: p. 165), Paris 1935.
- United Nations, ECAFE, Phosphate Resources of
Mekong Basin Countries; 4. Vietnam, (1) : Paracel Islands; Bangkok 1972.
The De Lanessan survey mission also proved the
existence of a continental shelf which reaches out in platforms from the
Vietnamese coast into the sea: the Paracels rest on one of these platforms, and
thus are joined to the coast of Vietnam by a submarine plinth. In the following
years, the names of many French ships have entered the history of both the
Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes: the Alerte, Astrobale, Ingenieur-en-Chef
Girod made other survey trips to the Hoang Sa Islands. The result was an
increasing number of other scientific publications about these islands in all
fields of human concern and activities. Some of these are:
- A. Krempf, La forme des recifs coralliens et le regime des vents alternants, Saigon 1927.
- J. Delacour and P. Jabouille, Oiseaux des iles Paracels, Nha-trang, 1928.
- Numerous reports called Notes of the Oceanographic Institute of Indochina in Nhatrang containing valuable scientific data about the Paracels, for instance the "5th Note" (1925-26) and the "22nd Note" (1934).
French scientists continued to work for Vietnam-in
its early years of independence and continued to contribute to our knowledge of
these Vietnamese islands. Among them was Mr. E. Saurin, the author of numerous
studies of great scientific value:
- Notes sur les iles Paracels (Geologic archives of Vietnam No. 3), Saigon 1955.
- A propos des galets exotiques des iles Paracels (Geologic archives of Vietnam No. 4), Saigon 1957.
- Faune Malacologique terrestre des iles Paracels
(Journal de Conchiliologie, Vol. XCVIII), Paris 1958.
- Gasteropodes marins des iles Paracels, Faculty of Sciences, Saigon, Vol. I: 1960; Vol. II: 1961.
Another French scientist, H. Fontaine, produced, 'm
cooperation with a Vietnamese colleague a remarkable study of the islands'
flora called "Contribution de la connaissance de la flore des iles
Paracels" (Faculty of Sciences, Saigon 1957). These scientific
achievements, accomplished over a long period of time, could only have been
achieved by a country exercising sovereignty over these islands to the fullest
extent. As a matter of fact, Vietnam would not run any risk by challenging
other countries having a pretense to sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands to
show the list of scientific publications they had made available in the past.
In their acts mentioned above, the French, who
merely took over rights and responsibilities temporarily transferred to them by
the people under their "protection", simply assured a normal
continuation of jurisdiction on behalf of the Vietnamese. However, in the face
of unfounded Chinese claims over and illegal actions connected with, the Hoang
Sa Islands in 1932, the French felt that it was necessary to take defensive
measures. Since 1909, China has made sporadic claims over the islands. On one
occasion during that year, the provincial authorities of Kuang Tung sent
gun-boats to conduct a reconnaissance mission there. On March 20, 1921 the
Governor of Kuang Tung, signed a peculiar decree annexing the Hoang Sa Islands
to the Chinese Island of Hainan. However, his action went unnoticed
because it is recorded only in the provincial records therefore, nobody could
know about it in order to make comments or to protest. Although not followed by
occupation of any sort, actions such as these were enough to cause some
preemptive actions by the French. For instance. in 1930 crew-members of La
Malicieuse landed on many of the Hoang Sa Islands to plant flags and set up
"sovereignty columns ".
More serious was the Chinese intention to invite
bids for the exploitation of the islands' phosphate. When the Chinese intent
became known, the French Government protested to the Chinese Embassy in Paris
by a note dated December 4, 1931. A few months later, when the Chinese
effectively called for bids, the Paris Government renewed the protests by a
Note dated April 24, 1932. This time the French strongly reaffirmed their
rights with substantive supporting arguments, e.g. the former rights exercised
by the emperors of Vietnam, the official taking of possession by Emperor Gia
Long in 1816, and the sending of Indochinese troops to guard the islands,
etc... On September 29, 1932, the Chinese Government rejected the French
protest on the ground that at the time Gia Long took possession of the islands,
Vietnam was a vassal state of China. It may be true that, as in other periods
of its history, Vietnam was then a nominal vassal of China (although it was
never quite clear when this situation started or ended),. but it is certain
that by this reply China implicitly recognized that Vietnam had asserted its
claim to the Hoang Sa Islands. The Chinese Government also appeared confused
about the legal distinction between suzerainty and sovereignty : even if
Vietnam was a vassal state of China in 1816, the formal relationship of
suzerainty could not preclude such Vietnamese acts of sovereignty as the
incorporation of new territories.
Convinced of her legitimate rights in the dispute,
France by a diplomatic note to China dated February 28, 1937, proposed that a
settlement of the conflicting claims be reached through international
arbitration. But China knew the risks involved in such a challenge and declined
the offer. Thus, the Chinese government simply responded by reaffirming its
claim to the islands. That negative attitude caused the French to send military
units, composed of Vietnamese soldiers and called Garde Indochinoise, to many
of the Hoang Sa Islands (28). These units built many - sovereignty columns -,
of which there exists photographic records. The column on Pattle Island
contained the following inscription in French:
Republique Francaise
Empire d'Annam
Archipel des Paracels
1816 - Ile de Pattle 1938
These dates marked the taking of possession -by
Emperor Gia Long and the year the column was erected (29).
These troops, commanded by French officers, were to
stay on the islands until 1956 with a brief interruption after 1941. Men the
Japanese seized the Paracels (and the Spratlys) by force in -that year, France
was the only power to officially protest against it. ' In 1946, shortly after
their return to Indochina at the end of World War II, the French sent troops
on. the vessel Savorgnan de Brazza to re-occupy the archipelago. However,
events in the French-Vietminh war compelled these troops to withdraw from the
Paracels in September, 1946. Informed that Chinese troops (who had supposedly
arrived to disarm defeated Japanese troops pursuant to agreements between the
Allied powers) continued to stay on the islands, the French issued a formal
protest on January 13, 1947. Then they dispatched the warship Le Tonkinois to
the area. Crewmembers found Boisee Island (Phu Lam) still occupied (January 17,
1947). The Chinese troops refused to leave and, being outnumbered, the French-Vietnamese
soldiers left for Pattle Island where they established their headquarters. They
also rebuilt the Weather Station which had operated for 6 years in the past,
between 1938 and 1944. The new station became operative in late 1947 and, under
international station code 48860, provided the world with meteorological data
for 26 more years, until the day when Communist Chinese troops seized the Hoang
Sa archipelago by force (January 20, 1974).
Beginning in the 1930's, these disputes, with China
had already motivated the French authorities in Indochina to take stronger
measures in administrative organization. By Decree No. 156-SC dated June 15,
1932 the Governor General of Indochina gave the Hoang Sa Islands the name of
"Delegation des Paracels" - and the status of an administrative unit
of Thua Thien Province. This decree was later confirmed by a Vietnamese
imperial ordinance signed by Emperor Bao Dai on March 30, 1938 (the
confirmation was necessary because, as the ordinance recalled, the Hoang Sa
Islands had traditionally been part of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces, from
whence communications with the islands had originated). A subsequent Decree of
May 5, 1939 by the French Governor General divided the archipelago into two
Delegations: Crescent et Dependences, and Amphitrite et Dependences.
These administrative measures were adequately
completed by the organization of services on the islands. For instance, health
checks were regularly made on the workers, called coolies by the French, during
their stay there. Consequently, civil service officers were appointed on a
regular basis. These officers had to stay permanently on either Pattle Island
(for the Crescent and Dependences Group) or Boisee Island (for the Amphitrite
and Dependences Group). However, because of the islands' bad climate, they were
allowed long vacations on the mainland and were relieved after short periods.
One of these former civil servants is Mr. Mahamedbhay Mohsine. a French citizen
of Indian origin who.. outraged by the Chinese invasion of 1974, has offered to
testify anywhere on the legitimacy of Vietnamese rights. Between May 5, 1939
and March 13, 1942, Mr. Mohsine served as Administrative Officer or De1egue
administratif for the Paracels. He was first posted on Pattle, then on July 16,
1941 was ordered to relieve a colleague, Deputy-Inspector Willaume, on Boisee.
Later Mr. Mohsine was officially recommended for an award of distinction in
consideration of his contribution to French colonial expansion in the remotest
parts of Indochina (30).
Mr. Mahamedbhay was only one of the many civil
servants and military personnel who, by serving the French colonial cause on
the Hoang Sa Islands, directly contributed to the preservation of Vietnamese
rights which had only temporarily been exercised by the French. At an early
stage,, French action had been only intermittent - intermittence which is not
at all incompatible with the maintenance of the rights but in the last 30 years
of their presence, the French did fulfill all the obligations of a holder of
title. Thus the French accomplished a valuable conservator act in the
safeguarding of legitimacy for the Vietnamese sovereignty over the Hoang Sa
Islands.
Return to Vietnamese sovereignty.
After the French-Vietnamese Agreement of March 8,
1949, Vietnam gradually regained its independence. Although some French troops
were intermittently stationed on some of the Hoang Sa Islands until 1956, it
was on October 14, 1950 that the French formally turned over the defense of the
archipelago to the Vietnamese. General Phan Van Giao, then Governor of Central
Vietnam, went in person to Pattle Island to preside over the ceremony. The
general made the trip to the remote and isolated island because, as he reported
to Prime Minister Tran Van Huu in Saigon:
"I was persuaded that my presence among the
Viet Binh Doan (Regional Guard Unit) would have a comforting impact on its
morale on the day the unit took over heavy responsibilities " (31).
No doubt Premier Tran Van Huu was pleased by the
Govemor's initiative, since in the following year (1951) he was to attend the
San Francisco Peace Conference with Japan where he solemnly and unequivocally
reaffirmed the rights of his country over both the Paracel and Spratly
archipelagoes. After its defeat in 1945, Japan had relinquished all its claims
to these islands that their forces had occupied. This matter will be discussed
further in another chapter.
Reassuming all responsibilities for the Hoang Sa
archipelago, the Vietnamese felt that it was more practical to re-incorporate it
as part of Quang Nam Province (as things were before the French decree of 1932)
because links between these insular territories and the mainland had always
originated from the Quang Nam provincial capital of Da Nang. A proposal to that
end was made in 1951 by regional authorities in Hue (32), but it was a full ten
years later that the President of the Republic, Ngo Dinh Diem, signed a Decree
(33) transferring the Hoang Sa Islands from the jurisdiction of Thua Thien
Province back to Quang Nam. The entire archipelago was given the status of a
"Xa" (village on the mainland). Administrative organization was again
perfected 8 years later: by a Prime Minister's Decree (34) the islands became
part of a village on the mainland of Quang Nam, the village of Hoa Long, Hoa
Vang District.
Most Vietnamese officials posted on the Hoang Sa
Islands were thus from Quang Nam Province and usually detached for about a year
from their regular position on the mainland. The first civilian officer to be
appointed by an independent Vietnamese Government was M. Nguyen Ba Thuoc
(appointed December 14, 1960 by Arrete No. 241-13NV/NV/3). After 1963 however,
due to war conditions in the Republic of Vietnam, the administrative officers-
assigned there have always been military men. They were usually NCOs in command
of the Regional Forces stationed on Duncan Island. Thus they bore the title of
"Duncan Island Chief", concurrently in charge of Administrative
affairs for the Hoang Sa Islands.
Whether civilian or military, these officers helped ensure
peaceful Vietnamese sovereignty over the islands. Scientific surveys continued,
with Vietnamese scientists joining their French colleagues in order to deepen
the knowledge about these remote territories. Manned by Vietnamese technicians,
the Pattle Weather Station continued providing the world with meteorological
data until its forced closure in 1974. The exploitation of phosphate resumed
after 1956 with the following yields:
1957-58-59 8,000 metric tons
1960 1,570 metric tons
1961 2,654 metric tons
1962 and after 12,000 metric tons extracted, but
left on the islands.
In 1956 the Ministry of Economy granted the first
license to exploit phosphate on the 3 islands of Vinh Lac (Money Island), Cam
Tuyen (Roberts) and Hoang Sa (Pattle) to a Saigon businessman named Le Van
Cang. In 1959, a license was issued to the "Vietnam Fertilizers Company
" which contracted actual extraction and transportation to a Singapore
company Yew Huatt (4, New Bridge Road, Singapore 1). Among other clauses, the
Vietnamese Company committed itself to obtain from the Government of the
Republic of Vietnam the granting of fiscal exemptions and the privilege to use
radio facilities 4 the Pattle Weather Station. After 1960, commercial
exploitation of Pattle was granted to the Vietnam Phosphate Company, which
stopped all operations in 1963 because of insufficient returns. Interests in
phosphate exploitation surfaced again in 1973 when the Republic of Vietnam
faced serious problems of fertilizer shortage.
In August of that year, the " Vietnam
Fertilizer Industry Company" finished a feasibility study conducted
jointly with a Japanese partner, Marubeni Corporation of Tokyo. The survey on
the islands lasted two weeks, and Marubeni Corporation provided the engineers
needed.
It is no wonder that the exercise of normal
sovereignty by the Republic of Vietnam has had to be coupled with actions which
are more or less military-oriented. Confronting unfounded claims by China in
the Hoang Sa Islands, the Armed Forces of the Republic have been required to
display constant vigilance in the defense of this part of Vietnamese territory.
As an example, when the Chinese nationalist troops which had refused to leave
Phu Lam (Wooded or Boisee) Island in 1947 withdrew in 1950 following Marshall
Chiang Kai Shek's defeat, Communist Chinese troops landed there immediately to
continue the illegal occupation. A Vietnamese Navy unit assumed responsibility
for the defense of the archipelago in 1956. This unit was relieved the
following year by a Marine Company. After 1959, the task was assigned to
Regional Forces of Quang Nam Province. Vietnamese warships have patrolled the
Hoang Sa waters regularly in order to check illegal occupants on the many
islands. In this regard, the People's Republic of China appears to have followed
guerrilla-type tactics: it surreptitiously introduced first fishermen, then
soldiers onto Vietnamese territory. They even built strong fortifications on
the two islands of Phu Lam and Linh Con. On February 22, 1959, the Republic of
Vietnam's Navy thwarted this tactic by arresting 80 fishermen from mainland
China who had landed on the three islands of Cam Tuyen, Duy Mong and Quang Hoa.
These fishermen were humanely treated and promptly released with all their
equipment after being taken to Da Nang.
The broad range of actions by the Vietnamese
authorities regarding the Hoang Sa Islands provides an undeniable evidence of
Vietnamese sovereignty. These actions include, among others, the approval of
international contracts connected with the islands' economy ; police operations
against aliens; extraction of natural resources ; the providing of guarantees
to other states; and so forth. Vietnamese sovereignty was first built between
the 15th and 18th centuries, consecrated by the Nguyen emperors, then temporarily
assumed by the French, and finally continued in a normal manner by independent
Vietnam. The exercise of Vietnamese jurisdiction was effectively displayed
under a large variety of forms. It was open, peaceful, and not, like the
Communist Chinese claim, asserted jure belli. Any interruption of Vietnamese
sovereignty was due only to foreign powers' illegal military actions against
which Vietnam, or France on behalf of Vietnam, had always protested in a timely
fashion. Convinced of their legitimate rights over the Hoang Sa Islands, the
Vietnamese will never indulge in compromises in the defense of their
territorial integrity (see Chapter IV).
CHAPTER
III
THE TRUONG SA (SPRATLY) ISLANDS BELONG TO THE VIETNAMESE
The Vietnamese islands of Truong Sa, known internationally
as the Spratly archipelago, are situated off the Republic of Vietnam's coast
between approximately 80 and 11040 North latitude. In.
the course of history, the Vietnamese people have had intermittent contact with
these islands known for their dangerous grounds and access. Unlike the case of
the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, the former emperors of Vietnam did not have the
time to strengthen these contacts through the organization of an administrative
jurisdiction. However, the French, who occupied the Southern part of Vietnam
known as Cochinchina, took all those measures necessary for the establishment
of the legal basis for possession of the Spratly Islands. In 1933, the Spratlys
were incorporated into the French colony of Cochinchina and from that year
forward have had an adequate administrative structure.
It is true that French jurisdiction was disrupted by
the Japanese invasion of 1941. However, shortly after the Japanese defeat in
1945, France returned Cochinchina to Vietnam, which then recovered all the
rights attached to the former French colony. Immediately thereafter, Vietnamese
sovereignty over the Truong Sa Islands faced groundless claims from other
countries in the area which military occupied some of the islands of the
archipelago.
Geographic and historic background.
The Truong Sa archipelago is spread over hundreds of
miles in the South China Sea. However, it only contains 9 islands of relatively
significant:
- Truong Sa or Spratly Island proper.
- An Bang or Amboyna Cay.
- Sinh Ton or Sin Cowe.
- Nam Yet or Nam Yit.
- Thai Binh or Itu-Aba.
- Loai Ta.
- Thi Tu.
- Song Tu Tay or South West Cay.
- Song Tu Dong or North East Cay.
Because of the size of the area, the archipelago is
divided into many groups. Using the main island of Spratly (which gave its name
to the whole archipelago) as a point of reference, the distances to the shores
of surrounding countries are as follows:
- Spratly Island to Phan Thiet (Republic of Vietnam)
280 nautical miles
- Spratly Island to the closest shore of Hainan
Island (People's Republic of China) 580 nm
- Spratly Island to the closest shore on Palawan
Island (Philippines) 310 nm
- Spratly Island to the closest shore of Taiwan 900
nm
Like the Hoang Sa Islands, the Truong Sa archipelago
is composed of little coral islands which are often surrounded by smaller
reefs. Because of their proximity to the coast of Vietnam, these islands have
always been frequented by fishermen from the southern part of Vietnam. These
fishermen made regular expeditions to the islands and sometimes stayed there
for prolonged periods of time. Vietnamese history books often made reference to
the ,Dai Truong Sa Dao-, a term used to designate both the Paracel and Spratly
archipelagoes and, more generally, all insular possessions of the Vietnamese
(50). The map published circa 1838 by Phan Huy Chu and called "Dai Nam
Nhat Thong Toan Do" (fig. 8, page 32) expressly mentioned the
Spratlys, under the name Van Ly Truong Sa, as part of Vietnamese territory,
although the archipelago was not located at its proper place because of the use
of ancient geographic techniques.
These distant islands were often neglected by the
Vietnamese authorities of the time. The emperors did not implement a
systematic policy of occupation on the Truong Sa Islands as they had for the
other archipelago, Hoang Sa. Furthermore, the Empire of Vietnam lost interest
in the islands off the Cochinchinese shore as the French occupation of
Cochinchina began in 1852. For their part, the French took some time before
consolidating their rights to the Truong Sa archipelago. Their first recorded
action was a scientific reconnaissance of the Spratlys by the vessel De
Lanessan following its exploration of the Paracels (1927). This scientific
mission was followed by an official expedition in 1930 on the sloop la
Malicieuse, in the course of which the French flag was hoisted on the highest
point of an island called Ile de la Tempete.
Legal basis of Vietnamese possession.
In 1933, the French Government decided to take
official possession of the islands. Three ships, the Alerte, the Astrobale and
the De Lanessan took part in the expedition. The following are relevant
quotations from an account given by H. Cucherousset in L'Eveil economique de
l'Indochine (No. 790 of May 28, 1933) :
"The three vessels first of all visited
Spratley and confirmed French possession by means of a document drawn up by the
Captains, and placed in a bottle which was subsequently embedded in cement.
" Then the Astrolabe sailed south west to a
point 70 miles from Spratley and 200 miles from Borneo, and arrived at the caye
(sandy island) of Amboine, at the northern extremity of the Bombay Castle
Shallows. Possession was taken of the island in the manner related above. This
cave protrudes two meters 40 cm above the sea at high tide.
" Two-thirds of the rock which forms the caye
is covered with a thick layer of guano, which the Japanese do not seem to have
completely exploited.
" Meanwhile, the Alerte sailed towards the
atoll Fiery Cross (or Investigation) at a point about 80 miles north-west of
Spratly and equidistant from Cape Padaran and the southern point of Palawan
Island. The whole of this vast reef protrudes only at a few points above the
surface of the sea.
At the same time the De Lanessan proceeded towards
the London reefs, at about 20 miles north-east of Spratly. There it discovered
the wreckage of the Francois Xavier, which was wrecked there in 1927 while on
its way from Noumea to Indochina via this part of the China Sea, in which, in
spite of its great depth, navigators are not advised to sail too boldly.
"Itu Aba. which is surrounded by a reef, is
mentioned in the naval instructions of 1919 as being covered with bushes and
thickets with the nests of many sea birds, and a number of banana and coconut
trees growing around a well....
"The De Lanessan and Astrolabe later sailed
north where, about 20 miles from the Tizard bank, is situated the Loaita bank,
an atoll of the same kind. The two vessels took formal possession of the main
island, on which are also to be found the remains of plantations and an
unexhausted phosphate working. Loaita Island is a sandy isle, low, covered with
bush, and a bare 300 metres in diameter.
"The Alerte for its part visited the Thi-Thu
reef, at about 20 miles north of the Loaita bank, and took possession of an
island and of this atoll. still by means of the same ritual. This little low
and sandy isle possesses a well, a few bushes, and some stunted coconut trees.
A fair anchorage is to be found on the southern bank."
Further north still, at the level of Nhatrang, is
the atoll named "North Danger" , the Alerte took possession of two
sandy islands (cayes) where it found some Japanese fishing. The De Lanessan
went there too and explored the little island. The latter is perceptibly higher
than the others, the highest point reaching 5 metres. The phosphate beds are
considerable and were much exploited by the Japanese.
After possession had been taken, the French Ministry
of Foreign Affairs published the following notice in the French Journal
Officiel dated July 26, 1933 (page 7837)
"Notice concerning the occupation of certain
islands by French naval units.
The French government has caused the under mentioned
isles and islets to be occupied by French naval units:
1. Spratley Island, situated 8o39' latitude north and 111o55'
longitude east of Greenwich, with its dependent isles (Possession taken April
13, 1930).
2. Islet caye of Amboine, situated at 7o52' latitude north and
112o55' longitude east of Greenwich, with its dependent isles
(Posssession taken April 7, 1933).
3. Itu Aba Island situated at latitude 10o2' north and longitude
114o21' east of Greenwich, with its dependent isles (Possession
taken April 10, 1933).
4. Group of two islands situated at latitude 111o29' north and
longitude 114o21' east of Greenwich, with their dependent isles (36)
(Possession taken April 10, 1933).
5. Loaita island, situated at latitude 10o42' north and longitude
114o25' east of Greenwich, with its dependent islands (Possession
taken April 12, 1933).
6. Thi Tu Island. situated at latitude 11o7' north and longitude
114ol6' east of Greenwich, with its dependent islands (Possession
taken April 12, 1933).
The above-mentioned isles and islets henceforward
come under French sovereignty (this notice cancels the previous notice inserted
in the Official Journal dated July 25, 1933, page 7784).
Notification of the occupation was made by France to
interested countries between July 24 and September 25, 1933. With the exception
of Japan, no State which could have had an interest in the matter raised any protest
against this act. Three powers in the area remained silent and unconcerned: the
United States (then occupying the Philippines), China, and the Netherlands
(then occupying Indonesia). In Britain, Foreign Under-secretary Butter declared
6 years later that France exercised full sovereignty over the Spratly
archipelago and that all matters relevant to these islands were primarily a
French concern (37).
The Japanese protested the French occupation on the
ground that, in the past, Japanese subjects had carried out exploitation of
phosphate on some of these islands. It was true that Japanese companies had
operated on the Spratlys without the permission and knowledge of French
authorities. But Japan had never made any attempt toward taking possession of
these islands. In 1939., claims by the Japanese militarist government then in
power assumed a tougher tone: Japan declared that she had decided to - place
the Spratly or Tempest Islands off the coast of Indochina under Japanese
jurisdiction -. The decision first appeared merely on paper, but was followed
two years later by forcible military occupation of the archipelago (1941). In
any case, in the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951, Japan relinquished
all titles and claims to the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
It should also be noted that the French occupation
of the Spratly Islands in 1933 did not arouse any protest from the United
States government, which was then acting on behalf of the Philippines.
Five years earlier, the United States did engage in a dispute with the
Netherlands over the island of Palmas off the Philippine coast (38). Since the
United States did not act where a Philippine claim could have been made, this
indicates that there was no ground for a challenge of French rights on behalf
of the Philippines. It was only 35 years after the French took possession of
the Spratly Islands that Philippine troops, taking advantage of the war
situation in the Republic of Vietnam, surreptitiously occupied some islands in
the Vietnamese archipelago:
Loai Ta 10o41'N - 114o25'E
Thi Tu 11o03'N - 114ol7'E
Song Tu Dong 11o27'N - 114o21'E
All of these three islands are in the list of
islands published in the French Official Journal of July 26, 1933 which
recorded the possession of the Spratlys by French naval units. The present
position of the Philippine government that these islands are not part of the
Spratly archipelago but only res nuilius when Philippine troops occupied them
is, therefore, obviously erroneous. All three islands (which were artificially
given Malayo-Spanish sounding names) are an integral part of the Vietnamese
Truong Sa archipelago. Moreover, it remains to be determined in a common and
friendly spirit whether or not some other, smaller, islands occupied by
Philippine soldiers are dependent islets of these Vietnamese main islands. In
this regard, it should be recalled here that when the French took possession of
the Spratlys, they only listed the major islands in the official act and
indicated that these islands were incorporated - with their dependent islets.
The Philippine government has also argued that the
remaining islands of the Spratly archipelago (i.e., those not occupied by
Philippine troops) are still -subject to the disposition of Allies in the past
world war-. According to this theory, when Japan relinquished its rights over
the Spratlys by the San Francisco Peace Treaty, its jurisdiction was assumed by
the Allied powers who have-not yet ceded the archipelago to any particular
country. No reasoning can be more disputable, since the Spratlys were already
and fully part of Vietnamese territory before World War II. These islands were
merely seized militarily by Japan and, just like Mindoro or Guam, must simply
return to their legitimate owner. It is obvious that military occupation by
Japan could not result in any transfer of sovereignty over those islands and
that Vietnam was ipso facto reinstated in her lawful rights after the
defeat of Japan. In the San Francisco Peace Treaty, it was simply said that:
" Japan renounces all right, title and claim to
the Spratly Islands and to the Paracel Islands."
Previously, the Cairo Declaration (1943) the Yalta
Agreement and the Potsdam Declaration (1945), which are the basic documents for
postwar territorial settlements, contained no clause contrary to the sovereignty
of Vietnam over both archipelagoes. There have not been any other legal texts
that attribute these territories to any country - as was correctly pointed out
by the Philippine government. Thus, all sovereign rights must be returned to
their legal titular, i.e., Vietnam which, since 1949 had inherited (or rather
retaken) all of the former French rights over these territories. Therefore, the
short clause about the Paracels and Spratlys in the San Francisco Peace Treaty
was merely designed to confirm that Japan withdrew all her claims in earlier
disputes with France.
It is to the credit of the Philippine government
that it has not associated itself with the burlesque adventure of one of its
private citizens, Mr. Tomas Cloma, who has pretended to - discover - the
Vietnamese Truong Sa islands in 1956 and has proclaimed an independent -
Freedomland - covering most of this archipelago (39). But the fact remains that
Philippine troops are presently stationed on some of the islands described by
Mr. Cloma as part of K Freedomland v. This matter must be settled
in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The
Vietnamese people are entirely confident that the legal and peaceful channels
available to solve such disputes will confirm the legitimacy of their rights.
Regarding China, it must be stressed that few people
have had knowledge of any Chinese claims over the Spratlys in the past (40). In
a sudden move on August. 24, 1951, New China in Peking attacked both
French and Philippine claims regarding these islands and stated that they must
be considered to be - outposts of Chinese national territory -. Subsequently,
the People's Republic of China continued to issue statements filled with
threats to use force in order to seize the Truong Sa archipelago (41). But it
was the Republic of China's government which took the initiative and sent
troops from Taiwan to occupy Thai Binh Island (Itu-Aba) on June 8, 1956.
Itu-Aba is the largest island of the Spratlys and thus was a kind of - capital
- where all French services were centered. As late as December 1973, the Far
Eastern Economic Review of Hong Kong reported that a marker still stood there
with the inscription: (France - Ile Itu Aba et Dependances - 10 Aout 1933 -
(42).
Exercise of normal state
authority.
The headquarters of a French administrative officer,
who also commanded a guard detachment ' was located on Itu Aba Island. Because
of the isolation and the hard living conditions on the island, only volunteers
to the post were sent there. Sometimes, no government official would volunteer,
so the Indochinese authorities had to recruit private citizens by means of
contracts which lasted one year. These contracts contained generous allowances
and other largesses in an attempt to retain volunteers on the island. One of
the a "contract officials," was Mr. Burollaud who held out for 2
years (1938-1940). It was apparently difficult to find a successor for Mr.
Burollaud, since the Governor General in Hanoi had to send a note dated August
22, 1940 throughout Indochina (and to the French possession of
Kouang-Tcheou-Wan in China) to look for a volunteer - who must be a European.
The official finally recruited turned-out to be most unlucky, since, according
to an eyewitness named Tran Van Manh who was serving at that time with the
Itu-Aba Meteorological Station, he was seized and tied to the flag pole by
Japanese troops occupying the Spratlys in 1941 (43).
Regarding administrative organization, 3 months
after the official incorporation of the Spratlys, the Governor General of
Indochina signed Decree No. 4762-CP dated December 21, 1933 making the
archipelago a part of the Cochinchinese province of Ba-Ria. After Cochinchina
was returned to Vietnam, this organization was confirmed in 1956 by a Decree of
the President of the Republic of Vietnam (44). Seventeen years later, the
Spratlys were attached to a village of the same province (the name of which had
in the meantime changed to Phuoc Tuy), the village of Phuoc Hai, Dat Do
district (45).
State activities on the Spratlys were necessarily
restricted because the islands were uninhabited and situated too far away from
the mainland. In 1938, the Indochina Meteorological Service set up a weather
station on Itu-Aba, which was considered the best place in the South China Sea
to provide meteorological data for neigbouring countries. The Station
functioned in French hands for over 3 years after which it was reported to have
continued operations under Japanese military occupation. Before the Japanese
seizure, the Itu-Aba station was important enough to be given an international
code number: 48919. Data provided by the Station were recorded all over the
world and were listed under - French Indochina - Cochinchina,,. The French also
continued scientific surveys of the Spratlys after 1933. For instance, a
valuable geographic and geologic study of the Spratlys was made available in
the 22nd Report of the Oceanographic Institute of Indochina (46).
Thus, on behalf of Vietnam, the French conducted
various kinds of activities which substantiate the right to sovereignty over a
territory. These also include diplomatic activities to ensure the protection of
possession by the authority in control. France defended with success the
Spratlys against Japanese aims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris
protested energetically on April 4, 1939 when Japan announced that she had
"placed the islands under her jurisdiction". France remained active
right until 1956, the year when all her troops finished their withdrawal from
Indochina. ' As late as May 1956, after Mr. Tomas Cloma created his so-called
"Freedomland", the French Charge d'Affaires in Manila was reported to
have reminded the Philippine government of the French rights resulting from the
1933 occupation (47). At the same period, the French Navy vessel Dumont
d'Urville made a visit to Itu-Aba in a demonstration of French - Vietnamese
interest in the archipelago. The Republic of Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, for its part, issued a statement on June 1, 1956 recalling the Vietnamese
rights. Two weeks later, Foreign Minister Vu Van Mau of the Republic of Vietnam
reaffirmed at length the rightful position of his country (48). He recalled,
among other facts, that five years earlier the head of the Vietnamese
Delegation at the San Francisco Peace Conference had solemnly reaffirmed
Vietnamese sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago and that the statement
was not challenged by any participating country, including China and the
Philippines.
From 1956 on, in the face of Chinese and Philippine
groundless pretenses, the Republic of Vietnam's Navy began to launch various
operations to reassert control over the Truong Sa Islands. Crewmembers erected
sovereignty steles on almost all of them and built poles to hoist the
Vietnamese flag. The cruiser Tuy Dong (HQ-04) was assigned these missions in
August 1956. In 1961, the two cruisers Van Kiep and Van Don landed on the
islands of Song Tu Tay (South-West Cay) Thi Tu, Loai Ta and An Bang. Two other
islands, Truong Sa (Spratly proper) and Nam Ai (Nam Yit) were visited the
following year by the cruisers Tuy Dong and Tay Ket. Finally, in 1963, all of
the sovereignty steles on the main islands were systematically rebuilt by crew
members of the three vessels Huong Giang, Chi Lang and Ky Hoa:
May 19, 1963 steles on Truong Sa Island (Spratly
proper)
May 20, 1963 steles on An Bang Island
May 22, 1963 steles on Thi Tu and Loai Ta Islands
May 24, 1963 steles on Song Tu Dong (North East Cay)
and Song Tu Tay (South West Cay).
The pace of these patrol and control operations were
reduced after 1963 due to the war situation in the Republic of Vietnam. That
does not mean, however, that Vietnamese rights on the Truong Sa archipelago
have been diminished, even if foreign powers were then able to take advantage of
the situation to commit illegal intrusion in some of these islands. These
rights had been openly established in the name of Vietnam when the French
incorporated the archipelago into Indochina. Moreover, these territories were
traditionally known and frequented by Vietnamese in the past. The French action
of 1933 was entirely in conformity with international rule and practice. It was
challenged by no one except Japan, who later relinquished all her claims. An
effective presence and a peaceful exercise of sovereignty have been firmly
assured. This has only been interrupted once and temporarily when Japan seized
the Truong Sa Islands by force in 1941. As in the case of the Hoang Sa Islands,
a foreign military presence has not and will not break the will of the
Vietnamese to remain as the owner of all their territories. Therefore, let it
be reminded that the islands now illegally occupied by foreign troops are
indivisible parts of the Truong Sa archipelago which belong to the Vietnamese
people.
CHAPTER
IV
THE DEFENSE OF THE LEGITIMATE RIGHTS OF VIETNAM
In preceding Chapters, it has been mentioned that
the Vietnamese have always assured an appropriate defense of their rights over
the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands. Vietnamese or French
troops were stationed permanently on both archipelagoes in a display of
authority that is inherent to rightful sovereignty. In the diplomatic field, it
has been recalled that France remained active until 1956 in the defense of the
legitimate title it held on behalf of Vietnam. In 1932, then again in 1939,
France issued particularly strong protests against pretenses from China
concerning the Paracels and from Japan concerning the Spratlys.
Independent Vietnam had later to confront serious
challenges to her sovereignty over these islands. At the San Francisco Peace
Conference of 1951, Vietnam unequivocally reaffirmed its rights over both
archipelagoes. The Vietnamese chief delegate dearly stated the position that,
in settlement of territorial problems resulting from World War II, only Vietnam
was entitled to recover the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands from Japan. The
defense of this cause continued actively during the following years. In
response to the Chinese invasion of January 19-20, 1974, the Republic of Vietnam's
soldiers fought heroically in the face of superior military force. Backed by
all segments of the population, they kept alive the Vietnamese tradition that
the temporary loss of physical control over a territory does not mean the
relinquishing of a legitimate right.
From the San Francisco Peace Conference to 1973.
When Japanese military control ended in 1945, the
Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands returned ipso facto to their legitimate owners.
H ever, the confusion resulting from the war allowed other countries make
bolder moves toward asserting their groundless claims. Specifically, the
Republic of China illegally continued to station on some of the Hoang Sa
Islands the troops that had been sent there to disarm Japanese soldiers in
implementation of the Potsdam agreement. Thus the successive governments of
newly independent Vietnam assumed the task of doing their utmost to protect the
territorial integrity of the country. The first opportunity to do so was at the
San Francisco Conference held in 1951 to work out a peace treaty with Japan.
The gathering was attended by delegates from 51 countries. According to
agreements reached, Japan renounced all rights and claims to the Paracel and
Spratly Islands. The head of the Vietnamese delegation to this Conference was
Prime Minister Tran Van Huu, who was also Minister of Foreign Affairs. On
September 7, 1951, during the seventh plenary session of the Conference, the
Vietnamese delegate made the following statement:
"…as we must frankly profit from all the
opportunities offered to us to stifle the germs of discord, we affirm
our right to the Spratly and Paracel Islands, which have always belonged to
Vietnam ".
The statement aroused no objections from any of the
51 countries attending the Conference. This must be considered as having been
the universal recognition of Vietnamese sovereignty over these islands. The
declaration by Premier Huu was designed to reaffirm an existing right,
therefore it has an effect erga omnes, i.e., even vis-a-vis those
countries not represented at the Conference (for instance, the People's
Republic of China).
On the other hand, the full text of Article 2 of the
Peace Treaty shows that the two archipelagoes were considered as one single
entity in the settlement of territorial matters:
Chapter II Territory
Article 2
a) Japan, recognizing the independence of Korea
renounces all right, and claim to Korea, including the islands of Quelpart,
Port Hamilton and Dagelet.
(b) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to
Formosa and the Pescadores.
(c) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to
the Kurile Islands, and to that portion of Sakhalin and the islands adjacent to
it over which Japan acquired sovereignty as a consequence of the Treaty of
Portsmouth of September 5, 1905. (d) Japan renounces all right,
title and claim in connection with the League of Nations Mandate System, and
accepts the action of the United Nation Security Council of April 2, 1947, extending
the trusteeship system to the Pacific Islands formerly under mandate to Japan.
(e) Japan renounces all claim to any right or title
to or interest in connection with any part of the Antarctic area, whether
deriving from the activities of Japanese nationals or otherwise.
(f) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to
the Spratly Islands and to the Paracel Islands.
The Treaty does not specify which countries were to
recover which specific territories renounced by Japan. However, from the above,
it is clear that each sub-paragraph is relevant to the rights of one particular
country, for example:
sub-paragraph (b) : rights of China.
sub-paragraph (c) : rights of the USSR.
sub-paragraph (d) : rights subsequently conferred
upon the United States.
sub-paragraph (f) : rights of Vietnam.
This interpretation was confirmed by the refusal by
the Conference to consider a Soviet amendment that would include the Paracels
and Spratlys into the sphere of Chinese rights. The Soviet amendment reads as
follows:
"1. To Article 2.
"(a) To include, instead of paragraphs (b) and
(f), a paragraph reading follows: Japan recognizes full sovereignty of the
Chinese People's Republic over Manchuria, the Island of Taiwan (Formosa)
with all the islands adjacent to it, the Penlinletao Islands (the Pescadores),
the Tunshatsuntao Islands (the Pratas Islands), as well as over the
Islands of Sishatsuntao and Chunshatsuntao (the Paracel Islands, the group of
Amphitrites, the shoal of Maxfield) and Nanshatsuntao Islands
including tile Spratly, and renounces all right, title and claim to the
territories named here in.
The Soviet Amendment was defeated during the 8th
plenary session of the Conference. The President of the Conference ruled it out
of order, the ruling being sustained by a vote of 46 to 3 with 1 abstention
(49). Chinese claims to the Paracels and Spratlys were thus overwhelmingly
disregarded.
At a later date, the government of the Republic of
China restated its claims based on the separate peace treaty between it and
Japan (April 28, 1952). Actually, the provision concerning the Paracels and
Spratlys in that treaty was an exact restatement of Article 2 (f) of the San
Francisco Treaty. Once again, Japan declined to specify in favor of which
country it renounced its occupied territories. In any case, it must be stressed
again that there exists an elementary principle of law that a state (in this
case Japan) cannot transfer more rights than it itself possesses, in accordance
with the maxim Nemo dat quod non habet. Generally speaking, the
illegitimacy of China's claims over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes is
due to the lack of animus occupandi on Chinese's part. It is true that
fishermen from Hainan Island have frequented these islands in the past and that
Chinese travelers occasionally stopped there. But unlike what has been done by
Vietnam, activities by private Chinese citizens were never followed by
governmental action. As late as 1943, although Marshall Chiang Kai Shek
represented the only country having claims to the Paracels and Spratlys at the
Cairo Conference, he did not have any reference to these islands included in
the final Declaration (which did state that Manchuria, Formosa and the
Pescadores must be returned to China). Because of the weakness of its argument,
China has always declined all suggestions, repeatedly made, in the past by
France, that the dispute be settled before international courts.
For the same reason, the People's Republic of China
had to resort to gratuitous affirmations, threats and violence to assert her
claims to the Vietnamese Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands. These claims are a mere
revival of the old Chinese imperialistic drive known to all South-East Asia
nations. The islands, islets, shoals and banks that the People's Republic of
China claims as a the outposts of Chinese territory)) cover the entire South
China Sea, and would virtually convert the whole sea into a communist Chinese
lake.
After the San Francisco Peace Conference, successive
Vietnamese Governments have assured a systematic defense of the Hoang Sa and
Truong Sa islands by all means available to a sovereign state. After 1956, when
stability had returned to the Republic of Vietnam following the Geneva
Agreement of 1954, military and diplomatic activities became more intense. As
mentioned before, navy patrols were conducted on a regular basis. When deemed
necessary, the government of the Republic of Vietnam solemnly reiterated its
rights over the islands (statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June
1, 1956 and July 15, 1971). Necessary steps were also taken vis-a-vis foreign
governments in order to assert the Vietnamese title. For instance, a note to
the Malaysian Government dated April 20, 1971 contained all the convincing
arguments in support of Vietnamese sovereignty. This sovereignty was so evident
that it could only be contested through military actions.
The Chinese invasion of January 19-20, 1974.
Before 1974, the People's Republic of China had
aired sporadic claims to the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands. Occasionally, it
conducted secret actions against the islands, such as the intrusion of -
fishermen , into Vietnamese uninhabited territories. However, at the beginning
of 1974, the People's Republic of China resorted to blatantly aggressive
tactics in order to militarily seize the Hoang Sa archipelago. The following is
an account of the invasion made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Vietnam. In the face of the extremely grave situation created by
the PRC's imperialistic action, RVN Foreign Minister Vuong Van Bac summoned the
heads of all diplomatic missions in Saigon on January 21st, 1974 and made the
following statement:
- Excellencies,
Gentlemen,
" I have invited you to gather here today to
inform you of recent events which have taken place in the area of the Hoang Sa
(Paracel) archipelago off the central coast of Vietnam. These events have
created an emergency situation susceptible of endangering peace and stability
in South East Asia and the world.
" The Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa
(Spratly) archipelagoes are a part of the territory of the Republic of Vietnam.
The sovereignty of our country over these archipelagoes based on historical,
geographical and legal grounds as well as on effective administration and
possession, is an undeniable fact.
" On the 11th of January 1974, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Red China suddenly claimed sovereignty over these
archipelagoes. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately rejected those
unfounded pretensions.
" From then on, Communist China chose to use
force to seize that portion of our national territory. It sent men and warships
into the area of the islands of Cam Tuyen (Robert), Quang Hoa (Duncan) and Duy
Mong (Drumond) of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and landed troops on
these islands.
" On January 16, 1974, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Vietnam issued a statement to denounce these
unlawful acts.
" In the meantime, in accordance with
international regulations, naval units of the Republic of Vietnam instructed
those men and ships violating the land and sea territory of the Republic of
Vietnam to leave the area.
"The Red Chinese authorities not only refused
to put an end to their unlawful incursions but also sent in additional
reinforcements in troops and warships. They opened fire on the troops and naval
units of the Republic of Vietnam, causing causalities and material damages. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Vietnam issued a communiqué on
the 19th of January alerting world public opinion on these serious acts of
hostility.
" On the 20th of January 1974, the Red Chinese
authorities escalate further in the use of force against an independent and
sovereign country. They sent their warplanes to bomb three islands : Cam Tuyen
(Robert), Vinh Lac (Money) and Hoang Sa (Pattle) where units of the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Vietnam were stationing, and also 'landed their
troops -with the aim of capturing these islands.
" Communist China is therefore openly using
force to invade a portion of the Republic of Vietnam's territory in violation
of international law, of the Charter of the United Nations, of the Paris
Agreement of January 27, 1973 which it pledged to respect and of the Final Act
of March 2, 1973 of the International Conference on Vietnam to which it is a
signatory.
" The Government and people of the Republic of
Vietnam shall not yield to such brazen acts of aggression. They are determined
to safeguard their national territory.
" I kindly request you to report to your
Governments on this grave situation. The Government of the Republic of Vietnam
also wishes that your Governments would adopt an appropriate attitude and take
appropriate action in view of those acts committed recently by the Communist
Chinese authorities in the Hoang Sa (Paracels) archipelago, in complete
disregard for international law and the sovereignty of other nations.
Thank you.
In the naval battle, the soldiers of the Republic of
Vietnam fought heroically although they were outnumbered and outgunned. They
suffered 18 deaths and 43 wounded, and, in addition, 48 Vietnamese personnel
were illegally detained by the PRC's invaders. Among those were four civilian
employees of the Pattle Meteorological Station: this is an evidence that
Vietnamese authorities were conducting peaceful activities on the islands
before troops had to be sent in to cope with PRC's provocations. Strongly condemned
by world opinion, the PRC government had to release these personnel within 3
weeks in an attempt to appease the indignation caused by its blatant violation
of the law of nations. Opinions sympathetic to the Republic of Vietnam were
expressed everywhere in the world, especially in Asia where Vietnam was often
hailed as the nation resisting communist Chinese expansionism. Even the Soviet
newspaper Pravda accused the PRC a not to hesitate to resort to arms in order
to impose its will in Southeast Asia, specifically on the Paracel and Spratly
Islands - (50). Also in Moscow, Tass provided a summary of an article from
"New Times - (a Soviet political weekly). The article quoted the PRC's
support of separatist movements in Burma, Bangladesh and India among other
Peking's provocations in order to - intensify pressures on independent
countries of Asia)-. According to -New Times,, this coincided with Peking's
military actions on the Paracels (51).
Convinced of its rightful position, the Republic of
Vietnam appealed to world opinion and seeked the intervention of all bodies
that could contribute to a peaceful settlement. As early as January 16, 1974
its Minister for Foreign Affairs sent a note to the President of the Security
Council of the United Nations to bring to his attention the grave tensions
created by the PRC's false claims. After he had presented arguments in support
of Vietnamese' sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands, Minister Vuong Van Bac
wrote: "In view of all the Precise facts listed above,, the sudden
challenge by Communist China of the Republic of Vietnam's sovereignty over the
Paracels archipelago and its violation of the Republic of Vietnamese
sovereignty are unacceptable. They constitute a threat to the peace and
security of this region.
" The Government and people of the Republic of
Vietnam are determined to defend their sovereignty and their territorial
integrity and reserve the right to take all appropriate measures to this end.
"The Republic of Vietnam considers the
situation created by the above People's Republic of China's action as one which
is likely to endanger international peace and security. Therefore the
Government of the Republic of Vietnam wishes to request the Security Council to
take all appropriate measures that the Council deems necessary to correct that
situation.". The Minister addressed the United Nations again on
January 20. .1974, while troops of the Republic of Vietnam were still fighting
back the PRC's invaders in the Hoang Sa waters. He wrote to the Secretary
General of the U.N. to inform him of the hostilities that started on January
19, 1974 when the Chinese landing party opened fire on Vietnamese defenders.
After denouncing the clear case of c aggression across international borders,
against an independent and sovereign state,,. Minister Vuong Van Bac requested
that the Secretary General, in accordance with Article 99 of the Charter of the
United Nations, draw the attention of the Security Council on the grave
situation. For its part, K the Government of the Republic of Vietnam accepts in
advance the obligations of pacific settlement provided in the Charter of the
United Nations, and - reaffirms its faith on the United Nations and its
acceptance of the purposes and principles enunciated in the Charter of the
Organization . Although the Government of the Republic of Vietnam was fully
aware that the PRC, as a permanent member of the Security Council had the power
of veto (a fact which left little hope for any constructive debate or positive
action), it chose to request an immediate meeting of the Security Council. The
attention of the Council must be drawn on the grave situation resulting from
the PRC's aggression because, as Minister Bac pointed out in has note of
January 24, 1974 to the Council's President (Ambassador Gondola Facio) :
"It behooves the Security Council and its members to fulfill their
responsibilities and to decide on what to be done to correct that situation
". Indeed, the PRC promptly tried to justify its blatant act of
invasion by presenting a completely distorted version of the facts. A PRC's
statement referred to c actions by the Saigon authorities in South Vietnam
which sent naval and air forces to encroach on the Yungle Islands of China's
Hsisha Islands , (!).
In a press conference on January 25, 1974, the
President of the Security Council stated that the Vietnamese request had all
legal grounds to deserve consideration, therefore he regretted that a Council
meeting could not be convened for that purpose.
The legitimacy of its rights motivated the Republic
of Vietnam to use all available means of action to defend its just stand. A
recourse to the International Court of Justice has been contemplated. On
January 22, 1974 the President of the Republic of Vietnam wrote personal
letters to the Heads of State in all friendly countries. After he had presented
how the PRC's violation of Vietnamese sovereignty created a threat to peace in
South East Asia, President Nguyen Van Thieu concluded:
"I am therefore writing to you.... to kindly
request that you raise your voice in defense of peace and stability in this
area of the world and resolutely condemn the violation by the PRC of the
sovereignty of the Republic of Vietnam over the archipelago of Hoang Sa". In other actions taken in defense of Vietnamese sovereignty, the
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Vietnam solemnly reaffirmed
before the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in Caracas that
the Vietnamese people will not yield to the PRC's act of violence and that they
will never renounce any part of their insular territories (June 28, 1974). The
Government of the Republic of Vietnam also sent a note on January 21, 1974 to
the. signatories of the Act of the International Conference on Vietnam (March
2, 1973). This document, signed in Paris by 12 countries including the PRC and
in the presence of the Secretary General of the United Nations acknowledged,
and provided guarantees for, the provisions of the agreement to end the war
signed on January 27, 1973. First the Vietnamese note presented the facts
related to the PRC's aggression, then it pointed out that:
"It is clear from these developments that the
government of the People's Republic of China is deliberately resorting to the
use of force as a means of acquiring territories, which is a gross violation
of... the Agreement to End the War and Restore Peace in Vietnam signed in Paris
on January 27, 1973 and the Act of the International Conference on Vietnam
signed at Paris on March 2nd, 1973.
"The Government of the Republic of Vietnam wishes
to call the particular attention of the Parties to Article 1 of the Paris
Agreement and Article 4 of the Act of the Paris International Conference, which
both solemnly recognize that the territorial integrity of Vietnam must be
strictly respected by all states and especially by the signatories of the Final
Act.
"In view of the seriousness of the present
situation, the Government of the Republic of Vietnam appeals to the Parties, in
the interest of peace and stability in the Western Pacific area, to take all
measures which the Parties deem appropriate as provided in Article 7 of the Act
of the international Conference on Vietnam - (52). The PRC's aggressive aims is not limited to the Hoang Sa Islands. There
were indications that Chinese troops were preparing to head for the Truong Sa
(Spratly) archipelago after they had seized the Paracels on January 20, 1974
(53). On the other hand, in February 1974, the Philippines and the Republic of
China also restated their claims to the Truong Sa Islands. The Republic of
Vietnam rejected these unfounded claims by separate notes to the Republic of
China (January 29, 1974) and to the Philippines (February 12, 1974). But the
Government of the Republic of Vietnam also deemed it necessary to make its
position clear to "friends and foes" alike , and to reiterate its
right before an universal audience. Thus, a solemn proclamation at the
governmental level was issued on February 14, 1974. This declaration is the
text reproduced at the beginning as an introduction to this White Paper.
CONCLUSION
UNANIMITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AGAINST AGGRESSION
The events of January 1974 had the effect of
cementing the entire Vietnamese nation into a bloc resolutely united in order
to defend the national sovereignty. After the invasion by troops of the
People's Republic of China, all newspapers (including those of the Opposition)
and other media in Saigon unanimously backed the Government of the Republic of
Vietnam in its determination to fight for the Hoang Sa Islands. The media's
opinion and the feeling of the people can be summarized by the following
editorial in the Dan Chu daily: " In the middle of a difficult battle
to repulse 400,000 North Vietnamese back to the North and a struggle for
economic development, the Paracels battle is another burden on our shoulder.
The naval battle between us and China has temporarily ceased with both sides
suffering heavy casualties and material damages. But in reality, it was only
just a beginning. The method to carry on the fight will be flexible depending
on the development of the situation but the goal remains the same. The South
Vietnamese will not stay idle, crossing their arms, to see their ancestral
inheritance stolen away." Although the Vietnamese are known to be
war-weary, enthusiastic mass rallies were held in virtually every city and town
to condemn the PRC's aggression. Everywhere the people unanimously adopted
resolutions denouncing before public opinion the violation of Vietnamese
sovereignty. Most of these resolutions also asked the Government and Armed
Forces of the Republic of Vietnam to take appropriate measures against the
invaders. The warship Ly Thuong Kiet received a hero welcome by an
overwhelmingly enthusiastic crowd upon its return from the Hoang Sa battle. On
January 21, 1974 the Vietnamese Confederation of Labor stated that Communist
China committed a an extremely serious act infringing on the Republic of
Vietnam's sovereignty and crudely challenging the national spirit of the
Vietnamese people living from Nam Quan Pass (54) to Ca Mau Cape, The Saigon
Students Union issued a declaration which vehemently denounced the invasion to
University students over the world. The War Veterans Association made a solemn
proclamation to condemn the - Red China's violation of international law - and
expressing deep gratitude to the Vietnamese combatants or their heroic fight
against the aggressors. Abroad, Vietnamese students and residents in several
countries demonstrated in an attempt to alert world opinion: in Tokyo, Ottawa,
New York etc.... Vietnamese students marched against the PRC's diplomatic
mission; in Geneva, Vietnamese students went on a hunger strike to draw
attention on the PRC's violation of international public order. The indignation
of the entire Vietnamese people at home and abroad was reflected in a true
manner in the declaration of the National Assembly (Senate and House of
Representatives) of the Republic of Vietnam. This declaration says, in part,
that c Communist China... has clearly demonstrated her scheme of invasion and
expansion, (and) poses a serious threat to peace in the Pacific Region.
Therefore, the National Assembly denounces to the public opinion at home and
abroad Communist China's brutal act of invasion, seriously infringing upon the
territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Vietnam and - urgently appeals to
the United Nations Security Council, the International Court of Justice and
peace-loving countries in the world to take positive actions to put an end to
the above-mentioned brutal act..." The people of the Republic of Vietnam
are thus unanimous in their determination to defend the integrity of their
territory. On behalf of the Vietnamese nation, the Republic of Vietnam
resolutely demands that all portions of her territory that are illegally occupied
be restored to Vietnamese sovereignty. The Government of the Republic of
Vietnam solemnly condemns the brazen act of invasion of the Hoang Sa Islands by
troops of the People's Republic of China in January, 1974. It strongly
denounces illegal actions against its Truong Sa territories by any other
country. It rejects all claims by any power over these Islands and regards
attempts to occupy them as violations of international law and of Vietnamese
sovereignty. Although deeply committed to the cause of peace, the Republic of
Vietnam must reserve the right to consider all means of action if occupying
powers decline to follow the lawful and peaceful channels of settlement to
restore Vietnamese rights.
The Hoang Sa archipelago and some of the Truong Sa
Islands have temporarily been lost. But these insular territories will live for
ever in Vietnamese hearts and will some day be restored to the Fatherland.
----------
SELECTED
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1- GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.
- State History Academy (Quoc Su Quan). Dai Nam
Thuc Luc Chinh Bien Volumes L, LII, CIV, CLIV and CLXV; printed in 1848.
- Ministry of Public Works. Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi
Dien Su Le, section 204; 1851.
- State History Academy. Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (6th
Volume: Quang Nghia Province); last edition: 1910 original work in Chinese
characters, translated into modern Vietnamese by Cao Xuan Duc Saigon 1964.
- State History Academy. Quoc Trieu Chinh Bien
Toat Yeu, 3rd Volume. Last edition: 1925S; originally in Chinese characters
,translated into modern Vietnamese by the " History and Geography Research
Group ., Saigon 1972.
- Protectorate of Annam, Bulletin Administratif
de l'Annam, Hue, Years: 1932 and 1938 through 1945.
- Ministry of Economy, Republic of Vietnam, Mineral
Distribution Map of the Republic of Vietnam; Tectonic Map of the RVN;
Preliminary Metallogenic Map of the RVN; Saigon.
- Ministry of Information and Open Arms, RVN. Hoang
Sa, Lanh tho VNCH, Saigon 1974.
2. OTHER WORKS PUBLISHED IN
VIETNAM.
Books
originally in Chinese characters.
- Do Ba. Toan Tap Thien Nam Tu Chi Lo Do Thu,
published circa 1653. Map of Quang Ngai Province and accompanying notes
translated by Truong Buu Lam in Hong Duc Ban Do, a publication of the
Historical Research Institute, Saigon 1962.
- Le Qui Don. Phu Bien Tap Luc, 1776;
translation into modern Vietnamese by Le Xuan Giao, Saigon 1972.
- Phan Huy Chu. Lich Trieu Hien Chuong Loai Chi;
year of original publication uncertain; translation into modern Vietnamese by
Nguyen Tho Duc Saigon 1971
Modern
publications
- Claeys, Jean Yves. "The Vietnamians and
the Sea" . in Asia Quarterly of Culture, Volume III. June 1953,
Saigon.
- Dinh Phan Cu. "Chu Quyen Quan Dao Hoang Sa
va Truong Sa", National School of Administration, Saigon 1972.
- Cucherousset, Henri:
La Question des iles Paracels, In L'Eveil Economic de l'Indochine, Hanoi issues of January 27,
1929; May 19, 1929; May 26, 1929: February 26, 1933.
Les iles Paracels et la securite de l'Indochine, ibid, May 10, 1931. L'lndochine aux Paracels, ibid., May 31. 1931.
Histoire moderne des iles Paracels, ibid., July 3, 1932 and July 17, 1932.
A la conquete des iles a phosphates (Spratley), ibid., May 28, 1933.
Les Annamites et la Mer, ibid., February 25, 1934
- Lacombe, A.E. "Histoire moderne des iles
Paracels", ibid., May 22,1933.
- Lam Giang. "Nhung su lieu Tay phuong chung
minh chu-quyen Viet Narn ve quan dao Hoang Sa, Truong Sa", in Su Dia
review, n° 29, January-March 1975, Saigon.
- Le Thanh Khe. "Chu quyen Viet Nam Cong Hoa
tren hai quan dao Truong Sa va Hoang Sa" in the review Chinh Tri va
Cong Dan, issue of Jan. 1, 1972'.
- Malleret, Louis. "Une tentative ignoree
d'etablissement francais en Indochine au 18e siecle" in Bulletin de la
Societe des etudes indochinoises, no. 1, Hanoi, 1942.
- Pasquier, P. "Histoire moderne des iles
Paracels" in L'Eveil economique de 1'Indochine, issue of June
12, 1932.
- Pham Quang Duong. "Van de Chu quyen tren
dao Hoang Sa in Su Dia", Dalat, issue of November 1970; "Cuoc
tranh chap chu quyen tai quan dao Truong Sa", ibid; issue of November
1971.
- Sale, Gustave. "Les iles Paracels"
in Avenir du Tonkin", Hanoi, issue of April 17, 1931.
- Salles, A. "Le Memoire sur la Cochinchine
de J.B. Chaigneau, Bulletin des amis du Vieux Hue", Hanoi,
issue of April-June 1923.
- Tran Dang Dai, Mr. and Mrs. "Hoang Sa qua
vai tai lieu van kho cua Hoi Truyen-giao Ba Le" in Su Dia issue of
January-March 1975.
- Tu Minh. "Cuoc tranh chap chu quyen tren
cac quan dao Hoang Sa va Truong Sa", in Bach Khoa, issue of February
9, 1914
- Vo Long Te. "Les archipels de Hoang Sa et
de Truong Sa selon les anciens ouvrages Vietnamiens d'histoire et de geographie",
Saigon 1974.
Scientific Studies
- Chevey, Pierre. Temperature et salinite de
l'eau de mer de surface des iles Paracels (43rd Report of the Indochina
Oceanographie Institute), Saigon
- Chevey, Pierre. Iles et recifs de la mer de
Chine, in Bulletin de la Societe des Etudes Indochinoises, May 1934.
- Clerget, Maurice. Contribution a l'etude des
iles Paracels. Les phosphates, Nhatrang 1932.
- Delacour, J. and Jabouille, P. Oiseaux des iles
Paracels, Saigon 1930.
- Fontaine, Henri and Le Van Hoi. Contribution a
la connaissance de la flore des iles Paracels. Faculty of Sciences, Saigon
1957.
- Krempf, A. La forme des recifs coralliens et le
regime des vents alternants Saigon 1921,
- Kunst, J. "Die strittigen Inseln in
Südchinesischen Meer", in Zeitschrift für Geopolitik, Berlin /
Heidelberg, 1933.
- Saurin. E. "Notes sur les iles Paracels"
in Archives geologiques du Vietnam, Saigon 1955; " Faune
malacologique des iles Paracels . in Journal de Conchiliologie, volume XCVIII,
Paris 1958; Gasteropodes marins des iles Paracels, Faculty of Science,
Saigon 1960 (I), l961 (II); Lamellibranches des iles Paracels, Saigon 1962.
3. FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS
- Barrow, John. A Voyage to Cochinchina,
London 1806.
- Boudet. Paul and Masson, Andre. Iconoraphie
historique de L'lndochine francaise, Paris 1907.
- D'Estaing (Admiral). Note sur l'Asie demandee
par M. de la Borde a M. d'Estaing, manuscript (1768), archives of the
French Government.
- Government of the French Republic. Journal
Officiel, July 26, 1933, Ministere de la Marine: Depot des cartes et
plans. Les Paracels, Paris.
- Manguin, Pierre Yves. Les Portugais sur les
cotes du Vietnam et du Campa PEFEO, Paris 1972.
- Rousseau, Charles. Le differend concernant
rappartenance des lles Spratly et Paracels, in Revue generale de Droit
international public, July-September, 1972, p. 826, Paris
- Saix, Olivier. Iles Paracels, in La
Geographie, issue of November-December 1933, Paris.
- Sauvaire, Jourdan. "Les Paracels
infiniment petits de notre domaine colonial", in La Nature,
issue of November 1, 1933, Paris.
- Serene, R. "Petite histoire des iles
Paracels", in Sud Est Asiatique, issue January 19, l9S1, Brussels.
- Silvestre, Jules. L'Empire d'Annam et le peuple
annamite, Paris 1889
- Taberd, Jean Louis. "Note on the Geography
of Cochinchina", in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal,
India, issue of April 1837.
- United Nations. ECAFE. Phosphate Resources of
Mekong Basin Countries, Bangkok 1972.
- United States Government. The Spratly /
Paracels Islands Dispute, U.S. Army Analysis Q1066; Conference for the
Conclusion and Signature of the Treaty of Peace with Japan, Dept. of State
Publication 4392; Washington D.C.
- Vivielle, J. "Les llots des mers de
Chine", in Monde colonial illustre, September 1933, Paris.
----
End Notes:
1. The Atlas is being kept at the "Ecole Francaise d'Extreme
Orient", Tokyo Bunko Library in Tokyo, Japan, has a microfilm of it under
reference number 100891.
2. Ly is an ancient unit of measure (1 ly: 483 meters or 528 yards).
3. Dai Chiem: present-day Cua Dai, province of Quang Nam; Sa Vinh:
present-day Sa Huynh, province of Quang Ngai.
4. The author assumedly included in three Hoang Sa archipelagoes main
islands and reefs closer to the Vietnamese shore than the islands designated as
the Paracels in the 20th century. This explains why some islands
could be reached in one day.
5. Internationally-known Vietnamese historians have, directly or indirectly,
contributed to the task of determining the date of the Do Ba document. Among
them are Prof. Hoang Xuan Han and historian Truong Buu Lam, who has been
associated with many American universities. Details on this question can be
found in Vo Long Te, Les Archipels de Hoang Sa et Truong Sa selon les anciens
ouvrages Vietnamiens d'Histoire et de Geographie. - Saigon. 1974.
6. Summarized and commented in Bulletin de l'Ecole Francaise d'Extreme
Orient, Vol. XXXVI, 1936.
7. This term is often used to designate all the distant insular possessions
of Vietnam.
8. Lettres edifiantes et curieuses des Missionnaires de Chine, quoted in the
Revue Indochine, No. 46, p. 7.
9. The document was reprinted in Bulletin des etudes indochinoises, tome
XVII, No. l Hanoi, 1942.
10. Archives of the French Navy, Ministere de la Marine, Paris. The document
was reprinted in Bulletin de la Societe des Etudes indochinoises, tome XVIII,
No. 1, Hanoi, 1942.
11. Translation into French from Arrow's book is available in Paul Boudet and
Andre Masson. Iconographie historique de l'Indochine Francaise, p. 250-300.
Paris, editions G. Van Oest, 1907.
12. Issue of April 1837. pp. 737-745.
13. Jean Baptiste Chaigneau, Notice sur la Cochinchine, presented and
commented by A. Salles in Bulletin des amis du Vieux Hue, No. 2, April - June
1923, p. 253-283.
14. History annals called - Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, 1833, 104th Volume).
15. Principle of international law established after the Palmas Island
dispute (1928). See United Nations - Reports of International Arbitral Awards,
pp. 829-855.
16. History annals Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, 122nd volume.
17. History annals Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, 165th volume.
18. In Vietnamese: - Dai Nam Nhat Thong Toan Do - Dai Nam is a former name
for Vietnam.
19. Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, 154th Volume. The same description is given
by the Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Dai Nam Comprehensive Encyclopedia). 6th
Volume devoted to Quang Nghia, present day Quang Nam, Province.
20. Truong, xich, thuoc are ancient units of measure (1 truong: 3.91 yards or
3.51 meters ; I xich or thuoc : 14.1 inches or 0.36 m.).
21. This isle is erroneously named Ban-Na in other publications, for example
Sauvaire Jourdan "Les Paracels infiniment petits de notre domaine
colonial". La Nature Review, Nov.1, 1933.
22. Annals Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, 154th Volume.
23. Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le, or Administrative records of the
Dai Nam, Ministry of Public Works, p. 25.
24. History Annals Su Quoc trieu chanh bien toat yeu; Year of original
publication unknown. Reprinted in 1935.
25. Map named Tabula Geographica Imperii Annamitici 1838, reprinted in J.
Silvestre, I'Empire d'Annam et le peuple annamite, Paris 1889, Felix Alean,
editeur.
26. E. Cortambert and L. de Rosny, Tableau de la Cochinchine, Paris
1862.-Armand Le Chevalier, editeur.
27. Sauvaire Jourdan "Les Paracels infiniment petite de notre domains colonial"
in La Nature, issue of November 1, 1933, Paris.
28. Reported by the French Daily Le temps, Paris, July 5, 1938.
29. The French engineer who supervised the work, Mr. Andre Faucheux, is
presently 75 years old and lives in Paris.
30. Mr. Mohsine currently lives at 18-R Vithei Sva, Phnom Penh, Khmer
Republic.
31. Memorandum No. l104 VP/CT/M dated October 30, 1950.
32. Memorandum No. 1220-VP/CT/M dated September 17, 1951 and signed by the
Director of Political and Legal Affairs, Government Delegation to Central
Vietnam.
33. Decree No. 174-NV dated July 13, 1961.
34. Decree No. 709-BNV/HCDP/26 dated October 21, 1969 signed by Mr. Tran
Thien Khiem.
35. ???Reported by the French Daily Le temps, Paris, July 7, 1939.…
36. The coordinates correspond to those of Song Tu Dong (North East Cay) and
Shira Island.
37. Reported by the French Daily Le temps, Paris, July 7, 1939
38. It may be noted that the principles established by the
intemational Court of Justice in the Palmas decision (1928) cannot but
reinforce Vietnamese rights, for instance, the emphasis given to the actual
exercise of sovereignty over mere geographic contiguity (see Reports of
International Arbitral Awards, United Nations. p. 829).
39. The lack of seriousness in this undertaking does not deserve further
comments. Mr. Tomas Cloma was reported arrested by the Philippine police in
November 1974 on charge of committing acts detrimental to state authority on
insular territories.
40. For instance, a comprehensive study of the Spratlys question by Professor
Charles Rousseau in Revue Generale de Droit International Public, July-September
1972, does not mention any sort of Chinese claims to this archipelago prior
to 1951.
41. New China; bulletin dated February 4, 1974.
42. Far-Eastern Economic Review, HongKong, Dec 21, 1973
43. Mr. Tran Van Manh is presently the Chief of Tuy Hoa Meteorological
Service, Republic of Vietnam.
44. Decree No. 143-NV signed on October 22, 1956 by the laie President Ngo
Dinh Diem.
45. Arrete No. 420-BNV/HCDP/25X signed on September 6, 1973 by the Minister
of the Interior.
46. Rapport sur le fonctionnement de l'Institut Oceanographique de
l'Indochine, 22, Note, Saigon 1934.
47. Reported by Prof. Charles Rousseau in Revue General de Droit
International Public July-September 1972, p.830.
48. Vietnam Press, dated June 14, 1958.
49. Conference for the Conclusion and Signature of the Peace Treaty with
Japan - Record of Proceedings : U.S. Dept. of State Publication 4392, December
1951. page 292.
50. Agence France Presse news dispatch sent from Moscow, February 10,
1974.
51. Reuter news dispatch from Moscow, February 21, 1974.
52. Article 7 (a) : In the event of a violation of the Agreement or the
Protocols which threaten the peace, the independence, sovereignty, unity or
territorial integrity of Vietnam, or the right of the South Vietnamese people
to self-determination, the parties signatory to the Agreement and the protocols
shall, either individually or jointly, consult with the other Parties to this
Act with a view of determining necessary remedial measures.
53. As presented in Chapter III. on February 4, 1974 the PRC issued a
particularly aggressive statement on the Truong Sa archipelago.
54. The Nam Quan pass marks the border between Vietnam and China.
Dịch Lời
Mở Đầu của cuốn sách
“Bạch Thư về Hoàng Sa và Trường Sa”
(Lời người dịch: Trong rất nhiều
bài đọc, bài dịch và nghiên cứu về lịch sử dân tộc Việt Nam, tôi có thể đưa ba
bài viết quan trọng – Tuyên Cáo Chủ quyền VNCH 1974 trên hai quần đảo Hoàng Sa
và Trường Sa, Tuyên Bố của Bộ Ngoại Giao VNCH về việc Trung Cộng xâm lược quần
đảo Hoàng Sa 1974, và Bạch Thư của VNCH 1975- sánh nganh với bài Hịch Tướng Sĩ
của Trần Hưng Đạo thế kỷ 13 và bài Hịch Bình Ngô Đại Cáo của Nguyễn Trãi thế kỷ
17. Sự phân tích Bạch Thư của VNCH 1975 cho thấy một giá trị tuyệt đối về lòng
yêu nước, tính quả cảm và sự thành thật trước sứ mạng thiêng liêng của tổ quốc
mà toàn dân Việt Nam đang nức lòng khác hẳn với sự phản bội tổ quốc của cộng
sản Bắc Việt – ngày 20 tháng 1, 1974 Hà Nội tiếp đoàn bóng bàn của Trung Cộng
sang đấu giao hữu, tập đoàn cộng sản Bắc Việt ngậm câm, phản bội tổ quốc. Nếu
chúng ta xem kỹ hơn vấn đề, trận đánh biển Hoàng Sa giữa Hải quân VNCH và hải
quân Trung Cộng đã là một tiếng chuông cảnh báo sự đoàn kết quan trọng nhất khi
các trang báo Việt Nam đều đồng loạt viết bài về trận đánh lịch sử này, và đã
thể hiện tư thế báo chí VNCH khi ấy trung thực, lý tưởng, đoàn kết và yêu nước.
Ngày nay (Di Sản) Việt Nam Cộng Hòa không còn giới
hạn trên phần đất phía nam vĩ tuyến 17 của tổ quốc. Việt Nam Cộng Hoà là một
thực tế không thể phủ nhận như toàn thể lãnh thổ từ Lũng Cú đỉnh cực Bắc của tổ
quốc đến cuối cùng tại đất mũi Cà Mau)
Lời
Mở Đầu
Quần đảo Hoàng Sa và Trường Sa của người Việt Nam cả
hai đều nằm trong Biển Nam Trung Hoa ngoài khơi bờ biển Việt Nam Cộng Hòa.
Nhưng kích thước khiêm tốn của các đảo không có nghĩa sự quan trọnq của các đảo
bị người Việt Nam coi là kém: đối với tấm lòng người Việt Nam, những đất đảo xa
xôi này cũng đều đáng quý yêu như bất bất cứ phần đất nào của tổ quốc. Những
đảo Hoàng Sa về phía Bắc đã bị Cộng Hòa Nhân Dân Trung Hoa chiếm đóng bằng võ
lực vào ngày 20 tháng Giêng 1974, tiếp theo sau một hành động xâm lược bằng võ
lực đã khiến thế giới cùng cực phẩn nộ. Đối với quần đảo Trường Sa cách 500 cây
số về phía Nam, hai thế lực ngoại bang khác đang đồn trú quân một cách bất hợp
pháp trên bốn đảo chính của quần đảo này.
Chánh phủ Việt Nam Cộng Hòa và nhân dân Việt Nam,
cương quyết bảo vệ chủ quyền và sự nguyên vẹn lãnh thổ của xứ sở; nghiêm trọng
lên án sự chiếm đóng lãnh thổ của Việt Nam bởi các lực lượng nước ngoài. Đối
với Hoàng Sa, không chỉ đó là sự vi phạm hoàn toàn chủ quyền của Việt Nam bởi
Cộng Hòa Nhân Dân Trung Hoa một sự thách thức đối với luật pháp các quốc gia và
Hiến chương Liên Hiệp Quốc: chừng nào mà sự vụ này có liên quan đến sự sử dụng
vũ lực bởi một cường quốc chống lại một nước nhỏ của Á châu, nó cũng tạo
nên một mối đe dọa hòa bình và sự ổ định tại Đông Nam Á. Trong trường hợp của
quần đảo Trường Sa, mặc dù cá lực lượng nước ngoài đang chiếm đóng không đổ
máu, tuy vậy vẫn chứng tỏ sự vi phạm nghiêm trọng về sự nguyên vẹn của lãnh thổ
của Việt Nam Cộng Hòa. Các quyền của người Việt trên các đảo này đã được vững
chắc xác định tại đấy cũng như tại quần đảo Hoàng Sa.
Việt Nam Cộng Hòa làm tất cả các điều kiện do luật
quốc tế yêu cầu nhằm nhấn mạnh sự đòi hỏi sở hữu những đảo này. Xuyên qua dòng
lịch sử, người Việt Nam luôn hoàn thành sự kết hợp dần dần các quyền trên quần
đảo Hoàng Sa. Vào đầu thế kỷ 19, một chánh sách có hệ thống về sự chiếm đóng
lãnh thổ đã được áp dụng bởi các vị hoàng đế Việt Nam. Quần đảo Trường Sa đã
được biết đến và khai thác bởi các ngư dân và công nhân, đã chính thức được kết
hợp vào lãnh thổ Việt Nam do người Pháp khi nhân danh Việt Nam. Cả hai quần
đảo, những nhân viên dân sự Việt Nam bảo đảm thực hiện quyền tài phán lãnh thổ
một các hòa bình và hiệu lực. Sự bày tỏ liên tục về thẩm quyền đối với quần đảo
Hoàng Sa, được đi kèm với ý chí kiên định không gì lay chuyển sẽ vẫn mãi là chủ
nhân với danh xưng hợp pháp trên các đảo này. Do đó sự phòng vệ quân sự các
quần đảo này và và các hoạt động ngoại giao đã được thực thi nhằm đối phó với
các lời đòi hỏi giả tạo từ các nước trong khu vực. Quyền của người Việt Nam là
không sao lay chuyển được. Nước CHNDTH đã chọn lựa nơi này dành cho quân lực
của họ để nhấn mạnh các đòi hỏi đối với quần đảo Hoàng Sa. Hai cường quốc khác
lợi dụng cơ hội tình trạng chiến tranh tại Việt Nam đã chiếm đóng bằng quân sự
một số đảo trong quần đảo Trường Sa mà tại đó họ không hề có chủ quyền hợp
pháp. Vì cả hai quần đảo Hoàng Sa và Trường Sa đều nằm dưới vĩ tuyến 17, đó mới
là sự quan tâm chính yếu của Việt Nam Cộng Hòa.
Bạch Thư này được soạn thảo nhằm chứng minh tính hợp
pháp của các đòi hỏi của chánh phủ Việt Nam Cộng Hòa. Đây cũng chính là lời kêu
gọi vì công lý đối với lương tâm của tất cả các quốc gia yêu chuộng hòa bình và
tuân thủ luật pháp trên toàn thế giới.
Sông
Hồng
04/20/2009
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