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What did China do to Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracels) on Jan 19, 1974?
Written By Unknown on 1/20/2017 | 1/20/2017
Bui Thanh, a senior Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper journalist, has penned a brief, yet sharp, reflection on the events of January 19, 1974 and why he believes the day should not be remembered as when Vietnam lost Hoang Sa.
Winter, 1946. Vietnam, a young nation, entered a nationwide resistance battle to protect her independence. Off at sea, Chinese troops began to take action against the country’s sovereignty.
China, in the name of an Allied power, dispatched a naval fleet to its southern seas, mapping an 11-dotted line on the waters and claiming Chinese sovereignty over them. They ran fieldtrips and destroyed constructions, temples, and all other traces of the Vietnamese, French, and Japanese. They named the four biggest islands in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratlys) after their warships.
It was an intrusion without a single gunshot that took advantage of an Allied power disarming the Japanese.
And then the world changed.
The Chinese troops under Republic of China leader Chiang Kai-shek were defeated by the Chinese Red Army, and were eventually forced to leave the Chinese mainland for Taiwan.
The world changed, but Beijing’s ambition to exclusively occupy the East Vietnam Sea did not.
In 1956, the Chinese army sent troops from Hainan Island to occupy Phu Lam (Woody) and other islands east of Hoang Sa. Three years later, they continued to make landfall on the western islands, but were swept away by reinforced naval and marine units from the Republic of Vietnam.
By 1974, things had become much different.
The U.S. shook hands with China through agreements reached in the Shanghai Communiqué 1972. And then the U.S. started to withdraw from Vietnam through the 1973 Paris Peace Accords and the Chinese seized the opportunity to wrest Vietnam’s Hoang Sa by force.
The Republic of Vietnam’s navy force failed in their first battle at sea against Chinese troops on January 19, 1974. More than 70 soldiers died and were given a funeral in the heart of Saigon, on the 27th day of the last lunar month, before Tet (Lunar New Year).
That day has gone down in Vietnam’s history as a painful memory, when a part of the country, which ancestors had spent generations protecting, was separated from the motherland.
It has been 43 years since.
Vietnamese do not consider January 19 as the day when we lost Hoang Sa - the beloved islands that had been protected by generation after generation of men on Ly Son Island and the brave Quang region. They will forever be the natural blood and flesh of Vietnam.
It has been 43 years but we will always look to Hoang Sa in remembrance, whenever Tet is near.
Japan PM pledges $1bn in fresh ODA to Vietnam
The fresh ODA loan is scheduled for disbursement during the 2016 fiscal year, between April 2016 and March 2017, the visiting premier said on Monday at the reception, following a welcome ceremony for his two-day visit to the Vietnamese capital.
The commitment was made after PM Phuc suggested Japan continue providing Vietnam with ODA in the near future, with a focus on infrastructure building, human resources training and climate change response.
PM Abe added that Japan is ready to boost hi-tech applications and investment by raising capital from state-owned enterprises and personnel training while facilitating Vietnamese tourist arrivals and cultural exchanges in Japan, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The Japanese head of government is visiting Vietnam at a time when the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership, established in 2014, has developed comprehensively.
At Monday’s reception, PM Phuc hailed his guest as the first foreign leader to visit Vietnam this year and reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of considering Japan its leading long-term partner, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The two leaders agreed on major orientations and specific measures to push forward the comprehensive, practical and effective development of the extensive bilateral strategic partnership.
On the economic front, apart from the ODA commitment, the two premiers reached consensus on boosting economic connectivity via the promotion of trade, investment, and cooperation in supplementary fields such as agriculture and labor.
Both sides vowed to realize Vietnam’s industrialization strategy within the framework of the Vietnam-Japan cooperation until 2020 with a vision till 2030.
The leaders expressed belief that talks between Vietnamese authorities and Japanese corporate executives during Abe’s visit will allow both sides to develop investment ties in the future.
The two premiers also agreed to boost bilateral ties across hi-tech agriculture, high-quality human resources training and cooperation between cities, as well as increasing the number of Vietnamese trainees in Japan.
The visiting leader announced that Japan would allow the import of Vietnam’s red-flesh dragon fruit, while the host also told his guest that Vietnam would license the import of Japan’s pear fruit.
Stronger comprehensive ties
Besides talking economic cooperation, the two leaders also agreed to continue strengthening political trust via high-level visits and meetings, and increasing the efficiency of dialogue mechanisms.
Abe and Phuc were committed to working closely together with regard to the upcoming Vietnam visit by the Japanese Emperor and Empress.
The Japanese premier looked to welcome his Vietnamese counterpart to Japan this summer and promised to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang later this year.
The host and guest agreed to enhance collaboration in national defense and security, including bomb and mine clearance and the improvement of law enforcement at sea.
On regional and global issues of shared concern, the two PMs vowed mutual support at regional and global forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), APEC, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and at the United Nations.
The Japanese leader affirmed that he would work to help Vietnam successfully host APEC 2017.
The two PMs underscored the importance of ensuring peace, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Vietnam Sea, urging parties concerned to refrain from actions that cause tension and militarization resulting in changing the status quo in the waters, and to promote the settlement of disputes via peaceful means.
The Japanese leader also promised that Japan would provide Vietnam with six new patrol boats for the Southeast Asian country to enhance its maritime law enforcement capability.
Following the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of agreements between ministries, agencies and business leaders.
Vietnamese premier to speak at 2017 WEF meeting
PM Phuc and a delegation of high-ranking Vietnamese officials arrived in the European nation on Tuesday, via the invitation of Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
This is the first time the Vietnamese leader will attend the Davos meeting as a head of government, expected to present Hanoi’s messages regarding its guidelines, orientations, policies, and determination for comprehensive reform efforts and international integration.
He will also reiterate the commitment of the Vietnamese government in fortifying the trust of international businesses, which is hoped will boost investment byglobal corporations into the Southeast Asian country.
The main focus of his speech will be on promoting the image and role of Vietnam as the host country of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit 2017, which will take place in the central city of Da Nang.
The premier will also partake in and speak at the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) to affirm Vietnam’s reform efforts.
The 2017 WEF meeting will include several activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, during which PM Phuc is schedule to report on Vietnam’s contribution to the bloc.
ASEAN is short for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a political and economic organization whose members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
He is also due to have a series of bilateral meetings with WEF President Klaus Schwab, President of Switzerland Doris Leuthard, and leaders of participating countries, international organizations, and global leadership groups.
This year’s WEF event brings together 3,000 participants, including 50 State leaders, government officials from 70 countries worldwide, and representatives from international organizations, namely the United Nations and the World Trade Organization among others.
It consists of 446 sessions, discussing global matters, including inclusive growth, the fourth industrial revolution, international cooperation models and immigration.
Vietnam to focus on science, tech in prep of 4.0 Revolution: PM to Davos
Speaking at a debate session on the future of production as part of the 47th WEF in Davos, Switzerland, PM Phuc asserted that Vietnam cannot continue to rely on exhausting natural resources and its cheap labor force to achieve fast and sustainable growth amid the 4.0 industrial revolution.
Instead, he told participants that the Southeast Asian country is renewing its growth model and improving growth quality, labor productivity and economic competitiveness while developing sectors with high added value, scientific and technological applications, and highly-skilled workers, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The Vietnamese premier said businesses are positioned as the central part of Vietnam’s renovation course and the government will work to spur development, serve the people and businesses, and strive to create a fair and favorable business environment throughout the country.
PM Phuc also briefed the debate participants on Vietnam’s goal of more than one million new enterprises by 2020, given that 110,000 new businesses were formed in 2016.
The government also aims to support 600 businesses with 2,000 projects in creative start-ups with a view of helping businesses’ access novel technologies.
“In addition to, Vietnam will speed up international integration in order to nurture renovation and creativity,” the premier said.
PM Phuc also informed participants of the upcoming 2017 APEC Summit in the central city of Da Nang, themed “Creating new driving force for a common future.”
The summit will focus on discussions promoting economic linkages, raising competiveness in the digital era, and offering opportunities for businesspeople and investors to seek partnerships, he stressed.
Meeting foreign media, tech CEOs
On the sidelines of the annual WEF meeting, PM Phuc also met with foreign media, affirming that Vietnam always welcomes international media to the country to cover its development and global integration.
The Vietnamese head of government also had an open and candid dialogue with CEOs of several leading global IT groups on the meeting’s sidelines, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
Speaking to the tech executives, the premier underlined that information-technology is booming in Vietnam, particularly in the fields of industry, agriculture, transport, healthcare, and education.
He added that country has become one of the fastest growing information-technology and telecom markets in the world over the past decade.
The WEF annual meeting runs from January 17 to 20 and brings together 3,000 participants, including 50 state leaders, government officials from 70 countries worldwide, and representatives from international organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
The meeting consists of 446 sessions, discussing the global matters, such as inclusive growth, the fourth industrial revolution, international cooperation models, and immigration, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
This is the first time Phuc has attended the WEF as a head of government.
S: tuoitrenews
Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest, in close up
Son Doong Cave, currently the world’s largest, emerges even more resplendent and proves an incredible challenge in the eyes of a female Vietnamese reporter, who recently joined a local film crew to make a documentary on the grotto.
Exploring ‘Son Doong’ in northern Vietnam
A ‘replica,’ nestled in the northern province of Bac Kan, of Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, will no doubt have visitors in awe.
A group of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters recently took a trip to the Tham Phay cave system of Hoang Tri Commune in Ba Be District, shortly after locals were said to have made the discovery.
A group of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters recently took a trip to the Tham Phay cave system of Hoang Tri Commune in Ba Be District, shortly after locals were said to have made the discovery.
Quảng Bình denies building cable to famous cave
QUẢNG BÌNH — Quảng Bình Province is not building a suspension cable to Sơn Đoòng Cave, the world’s largest cave located in the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park.
This was revealed by deputy chairman of the central province People’s Committee Trần Tiến Dũng to Zing e-newspaper on Tuesday.
The province had not discussed the work contrary to rumours doing the rounds recently, he said.
Dũng said if the province did plan to set up the Sơn Đoòng suspension cable, it would have to seek opinions from a number of related ministries and sectors and make a report on the impact on the environment.
In particular, the province would require permission and agreement from the UNESCO.
Following a conference on a working plan for this year held by the Quảng Bình Department of Tourism on Monday, there were reports that the province had approved a plan to build a suspension cable to Sơn Đoòng Cave.
Several accounts on social network said the province had even chosen investors and companies to execute the work.
Many people raised objections as they worried that the building would damage the beauty of the famous wonder of the world.
Leaders of the Quảng Bình Department of Tourism denied these reports.
“During the conference, we discussed a plan to ease difficulties for the tourism sector and attract more tourists to the province. The conference did not mention the suspension cable,” Hồ An Phong, director of the Quảng Bình Department of Tourism, said.
Việt Nam’s Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, which boasts of having the world’s largest cave Sơn Đoòng, was recognised as a world heritage site for the second time by UNESCO in 2015. The park was first added to the World Heritage List in 2003. — VNS
