VietNamNet Bridge – The Da Nang Institute for Socio-economic Development (DISD) has unveiled the receiving of more valuable documents affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.

The documents, donated by Chairman of the US-based Institute for Vietnamese Culture and Education Tran Thang, include 43 ancient maps and a book entitled “the Postal Atlas of China” published by China in Nanjing in 1919.

Earlier on November 23, 2012, the DISD and the People’s Committee of Hoang Sa district in central Da Nang city received from Thang the 1908 Atlas and 1933 Atlas, 92 maps and three summary records with many Chinese maps attached excluding Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.

To date, Thang has presented to DISD a total of 150 maps, including 110 original and 40 copies, which were published in the UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, the US and Hong Kong (China) in the 1626-1980 period.

Among them, 80 maps identify that the southernmost territory of China is Hainan island; 50 maps show that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam’s territory; and ten maritime maps and ten maps featuring Asia and Southeast Asia indicate that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa lie in the territorial sea of Vietnam.

Source: Vietnam Plus