By Luu Van Loi

From the comparative study of the Vietnamese and Chinese titles vis-a-vis the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, the following conclusions can be drawn:

I. FROM ANTIQUITY TO 1909

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THE HOANG SA AND TRUONG SA ARCHIPELAGOES VIETNAMESE TERRITORIES

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
1981

PART II

THE HOANG SA AND TRUONG SA ARCHIPELAGOESHAVE NEVER BEEN CHINESE TERRITORIES

Despite the fact that the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes have longiince been part of Vietnamese territory, the Peking ruling circles are now tryingto justify their expansionist ambitions over these two archipelagoes, quoting ancientbooks to back up their claims that China was "the first to discover, to exploit andto govern" the "Xisha" and the "Nansha'' archipelagoes. "For thousands of years,the governments of various Chinese dynasties had been continuously exercisingtheir jurisdiction over these two archipelagoes... and the Chinese people areundeniable masters of these two archipelagoes", (38) they say.

White Paper on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands


Republic of Vietnam
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Saigon, 1975
 

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.

White Paper on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands

Republic of Vietnam
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Saigon, 1975

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):