UCDP

General information

Part of Conflict: China - Vietnam (North Vietnam)

Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1974-01-11
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: The question of which country had the territorial rights to the Paracel Islands had been disputed ever since Japan renounced its claims to them following the end of World War II. The main contenders were China and Vietnam, although also Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines had made claims over the years. The status of the Spratly Islands were also contested by these countries.

The Paracel Islands lie about 165 miles south-east of the Chinese islands of Hainan and 225 miles east if Vietnam. The Paracels consist of about 130 small island, none larger than a square mile. The Spratly Islands are situated in the South China Sea and lie about 300 miles east of Vietnam and 300 miles west of the Philippines. China based its claim to the Islands on old maps, British surveys as well as on their regular use by Chinese fishermen. South Vietnam, on the other hand, cited maps issued by the Empire of Annam in 1834 and also claimed that the Paracel Islands had been transferred from France to Vietnam in 1919. In 1933, France took control over the Spratly Islands, but the Islands were formally annexed by Japan six years later. However, when Japan later, in 1951, in a peace treaty renounced its claims to both the Paracel (which also had been annexed by Japan during World War II) and the Spratly Islands, it was not specified which country the Islands belonged to.

In September 1973, South Vietnam announced its formal incorporation of the Paracel Islands. In the previous month, South Vietnam had begun granting contracts for oil exploration. The islands were thought to contain oil deposits, although this was never independently confirmed. The South Vietnamese incorporation of the islands was contested by China on 11 January 1974. In its statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the Paracel Islands, as well as the Spratly Islands, belonged to China and described the South Vietnamese actions as “a wanton infringement of Chinas territorial integrity and sovereignty”. The Chinese statement was in turn rejected by the South Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on the following day.

The territorial disputes over the islands were followed by several border disputes, both on land and at sea. These disputes were strongly linked to regional developments, including the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1978, China’s support to the Khmer Rouge, Vietnam’s relations to the Soviet Union and China’s relations to the USA.

Date of first use of armed force: 1974-01-19
Comment on date of first use of armed force: In September 1973, South Vietnam announced its formal incorporation of the Paracel Islands. The South Vietnamese incorporation of the islands was contested by China on 11 January 1974. In its statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the Paracel Islands, as well as the Spratly Islands, belonged to China and described the South Vietnamese actions as “a wanton infringement of Chinas territorial integrity and sovereignty”. The Chinese statement was in turn rejected by the South Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on the following day.

According to South Vietnam, 11 Chinese warships entered the Paracel Islands area on 16 January 1974 and landed troops on a few of the islands. South Vietnamese troops were sent to one of these islands the following day and claimed to have removed a Chinese flag, but found no Chinese troops. On 19 January, the first military encounter on the islands took place. A South Vietnamese patrol came upon Chinese troops on one of the islands, the latter open fire and killed two South Vietnamese troops. The clash was then followed by further clashes at sea. The South Vietnamese Foreign Ministry claimed that a Chinese escort ship had opened fire on a South Vietnamese destroyer, while China claimed that it was the South Vietnamese that had fired the first round. Further clashes were reported on the next day, on 20 January.

Despite claims about having inflicted heavier damage to the Chinese than they had received, South Vietnam withdrew from the islands on 20 January. The islands were then immediately taken over by the Chinese, who also took a number of Vietnamese inhabitants as prisoners. These were eventually handed over to South Vietnam one month later. At the same time, South Vietnam reinforced their presence on the Spratly Islands. There are diverging reports on the number of people killed in the clashes. According to Vietnam, 19 of their soldiers died while a large number of soldiers were reported as missing. China reportedly lost 18 soldiers. Thus, at least 37 people were killed during the two days of battle.
First Battle Related Death: 1974-01-19
Comment on First Battle Related Death: In September 1973, South Vietnam announced its formal incorporation of the Paracel Islands. The South Vietnamese incorporation of the islands was contested by China on 11 January 1974. In its statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the Paracel Islands, as well as the Spratly Islands, belonged to China and described the South Vietnamese actions as “a wanton infringement of Chinas territorial integrity and sovereignty”. The Chinese statement was in turn rejected by the South Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on the following day.

Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1974-01-20
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: In September 1973, South Vietnam announced its formal incorporation of the Paracel Islands. The South Vietnamese incorporation of the islands was contested by China on 11 January 1974. In its statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the Paracel Islands, as well as the Spratly Islands, belonged to China and described the South Vietnamese actions as "a wanton infringement of Chinas territorial integrity and sovereignty". The Chinese statement was in turn rejected by the South Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on the following day.

The date of when the dyad reached 25 battle-related deaths is set to 20 January, since it is not clear if more than 25 people were killed on the first day of the clashes (19 January).

Conflict issues

Annual information

This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.