According to the preserved document, about since the 18th century Vietnam feudal State found out and possessed Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes known as Bai Cat vang, Hoang Sa...
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According to the preserved document, about since the 18th century Vietnam feudal State found out and possessed Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes known as Bai Cat vang, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa or Van li Truong Sa that had belonged to sovereignty of no country before. Western navigators and missionaries all knew about the large area of archipelagoes in the middle of East Sea with a lot of sandbars and hidden rocks dangerous for ships. Almost maps of navigators and missionaries from the 16th century to 18th century showed Truong Sa and Hoang sa into one named Pracel - Parcel or paracel and defined that its position was in the middle of East Sea. Owing to the development of navigation, afterward, people divided this area in two archipelagos: Pracels and Spratly that are now Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos of Viet Nam.
Throughout centuries, Vietnam feudal State carried out investigating the terrain, the natural resources and even the two archipelagos. Kings under the reign of Nguyen not only gave their mind to their country’s sovereignty and interest in the two archipelagos but also guaranteed safety for ships to go back and forth in this area. In 1933, King Minh Menh said to Bo Cong: ”in Quang Nghia waters, there was a band of Hoang Sa, in the distance is blue, we can’t distinguish whether it was shallow or deep.
So, through Vietnam ancient history books as well as navigators’ evidences, the State of Viet Nam had owned this area for centuries from reign to reign. That the regular presence of Hoang Sa groups established by feudal State on the two archipelagoes to do the duty proves that the two archipelagoes belonged to Viet Nam for long.
Since June 6th 1884 when French signed an agreement with reign of Nguyen, French was Vietnam’s representative in diplomatic relations as well as in State sovereignty guard, going on carrying out sovereignty of the two archipelagoes.
From April 13 of the year 1930 to April 12 of the year 1933, French government sent navy groups to major islands of Truong sa archipelago such as An Bang, Song Tu, Jtu Aba and Truong sa Island.
On December 21st 1933, Governor M.J. Krautheimer signed regulation to integrate islands of Truong Sa, An Bang, Jtu Aba and groups of Islands of Song Tu, Loat Ta and Thi Tu into Ba Ria Province.
In 1938, French set up meteorological station, radio station in Jtu Aba Island. During the time they representative for Viet Nam, in respect of diplomatic relations, French always affirmed the sovereignty of Viet Nam for the two archipelagoes and resisted against the violation of the sovereignty for the two archipelagoes of Viet Nam. Typically, on July 24, 1933, French informed Japanese of launching troops in major Islands in Truong Sa archipelago. French met with Japanese’s resistance but French objected to the resistance. 6Six years later, on April 4 1939, French resisted against Japanese.
After the World War II, on July 9, 1951, Mr. Tran Van Huu, head of the delegation of Bao Dai government declared at the meeting in San Francisco on an agreement with Japanese that “we asserted that the sovereignty for the two archipelagoes, Hoang Sa and Truong Sa has existed for long”. The declare had not met with stiff opposition of 51countries taking part in the conference. In 1956, after French troops’ withdrawal, navy force of Sai Gon authority took over the two archipelagoes. Also in October 1956, Sai Gon authority placed Truong Sa archipelago subordinate to Tuy Phuoc Province. Then they one by one built targets such as An Bang, Song Tu Tay, Song Tu Dong, Thi Tu, Loat Ta. In July 1973, Agriculture Research Institute run by the Ministry of Land and Agriculture Developing of Sai Gon carried out the investigation of Nam Yet Island belonging to Truong Sa archipelago. On September 6, 1973, Sai Gon government integrated Islands of Truong Sa, An Bang, Jtu Aba, Song Tu Tay, Song Tu Dong, Thi Tu, Loat Ta, Nam Yet, Sinh Ton and adjacent Islands on Truong Sa archipelago into Dat Do commune of Phuoc Hai (Phuoc Tuy Province). On May 5 1975, the provisional government informed the liberation of Truong Sa Islands occupied by Sai Gon Army.
After the day of liberation, the government always raised their voice to affirm Viet Nam ‘s sovereignty for the two archipelagoes at international forums with unbending argument that Viet Nam has possessed the two archipelagoes since the XVII century when it did not belonged to any country yet.
In brief, Viet Nam State of Feudalism had owned Truong Sa archipelago since the 17th century. Then, Dong Duong Government consolidated the sovereignty of Viet Nam on Truong Sa archipelago by forming a new government and issuing Decree 4762-CP dated 21 Dec, 1933 of Nam Ky Governor about integrating Truong Sa archipelago into Ba Ria Province. Then implementing Decree 420-BNV/HCDP/26 proclaimed on 6 Sept 1973 of Republic of Viet Nam about integrating it into Dat Do village of Phuoc Hai (Phuoc Tuy Province). On 19th December 1982, the council of Ministers launched Resolution 193-HDBT about forming Truong Sa district belonging to Dong Nai Province. On 28 Dec 1982, at the session 4 of National Assembly 7 launched Resolution about integrating Truong Sa District into Phu Khanh Province. Then, on 30 June 1989 at the session 5 of National Assembly 7 proclaimed Resolution about dividing Phu Khanh Province into Phu Yen Province and Khanh Hoa Province, thereby, Khanh Hoa Province has 8 administrative divisions, including Truong Sa archipelago.
It is obvious that Truong Sa archipelago is a part of Viet Nam territory, meaningful to the cause of building and defending the country of Viet Nam.
H.Y
