Nguyen Phuong Nga on January 4 demanded China immediately end its project to include the Hoang Sa archipelago in the scheme to develop the Hainan island into an international tourist site. The scheme was announced by the Chinese State Council on December 31, 2009.

She reiterated undisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, emphasising “the above-mentioned scheme by the Chinese side has seriously violated Vietnam ’s sovereignty”.

“It runs counter to the common high-level viewpoint, causes tension and further complicates the East Sea situation,” said Mrs Nga.

“Vietnam demands China put an immediate end to this action.

Documents affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue has discovered three historic documents affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, said Ngo Hoa deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee on January 4.

The first two documents were given by historian Phan Thuan An, who found them in a temple dedicated to Princess Ngoc Son, daughter of King Dong Khanh and aunt of King Bao Dai.

The first paper from the royal court of King Bao Dai was written in Vietnamese, announcing that a unit of soldiers were awarded honour medals on February 10, 1939 for building guard stations on the Hoang Sa archipelago.

The second document dated February 3, 1939, written in French, stated that King Bao Dai approved a medal for Louis Fontan who joined a Hoang Sa guard team in protecting the island under the Nguyen dynasty.

The third document in Chinese characters, discovered in My Loi village, Vinh My commune, Phu Loc district, dated back to 250 years ago. The document proved that Vietnam had a fleet that explored and managed aquatic products on the Hoang Sa islands.

The first document was already handed over to the Foreign Ministry.