'Lemon Juice' Bruce

PARACEL & SPRATLY ISLANDS BELONG TO VIETNAM

The Paracel Islands (known in Vietnam as the Hoang Sa or Quan Dao Hoang Sa, known in China as the Xisha Islands, or Xisha Dao, or Xisha Qundao) about 250 miles off the coast of Hainan. They are also about the same distance off the coast of Vietnam [but closer to Viet Nam].

In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor,Vietnam.

The islands were formerly part of Vietnam, and were controlled by Vietnam until 1974 when China forcibly took them from Vietnam.

The Spratly Islands (known in Vietnam as Truong Sa or Quan Dao Truong Sa, known in China as the Nansha Islands or Nansha Qundao) consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs.

They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. In the past, all these islands were controlled by Vietnam but nowadays after some historical changes (World War II, Vietnam War , Naval battle in Spratlys 1988, etc...) Spratly islands about 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from Vietnam, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan. Up to now, these islands are claimed in their entirety by Vietnam.

More Details? Please read the following books and articles:

1.Sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands by Monique Chemillier-Gendreau (English edition)

[ The French edition is also available.Download here (33.73 MB) ]

2.The Sino-Vietnamese Difference on the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagoes

3.Vietnamese claims to the Truong Sa archipelago (University of Hawaii)

4.Chia and International Fisheries Law And Policy

5.Security Flashpoints - Oil, Island, Sea Access and Military Confrontation

6.Spratly Islands dispute

7.Reviewed by Steve Carlson

8.The Spratly Islands Dispute: Who's On First?

9.Paracel & Spratly Website

10.Paracel islands from wikipedia