Sovereignty over Truong Sa, Hoang Sa under discussion
(VOV) - A national seminar themed “Cooperation in the East Sea - History and Prospects” was held in the central city of Danang on December 12 to discuss Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.
Reports presented by scientists on the East Sea acknowledged that new evidence from the East Sea research program affirms Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.
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Hanoi National University Associate Professor Dr Pham Xanh said under King Minh Mang’s dynasty in the 19th Century, Vietnamese people were sent to the archipelagoes to establish villages and citadels to protect the islands. Minh Mang also drove away fishing boats from neighbours invading his nation’s territorial waters and gave assistance to drifting ships and boats in the vicinity.
Dr. Tran Duc Anh Son from the Danang Socio-Economic Development Research Institute introduced documents and archived Western maps relating to Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.
Going as far back as 1526, the map records indicate that China’s territory did not include Hoang Sa or Truong Sa.
There were also forums at the seminar on the strategic position, economic and cultural potentials, and prospects for cooperation and development between nations in the East Sea.