VietNamNet Bridge - From the early 20th century, when China began eyeing the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagos (Paracel and Spratly Islands), the Vietnamese government as well as local and international media were interested in Hoang Sa - Truong Sa.

When the Qing Dynasty began paid attention to Hoang Sa in 1909, the national-language press in Vietnam was at its infancy. The French established several newspapers to serve their “civilizing mission”. Some newspapers wrote about "Annam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa".

Then several national language newspapers appeared and they also had many articles about Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

Writer P.A La Picque who lived in Hong Kong in 1909 wrote about the survey of Hoang Sa of the Guangdong government as follows: "At the end of May 1909, two small gunboats in Guangzhou prepared to go out to the sea. There are two Germans of the Maison Carlwitz on board in addition to Chinese sailors ... ".

The article on the Qing Dynasty’s preparation for a trip to Hoang Sa showed that the Chinese authority’s eyeing of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa was watched by the French press.

On June 20, 1909, Guangzhou's largest newspaper, Kono Che Pao, wrote: "Finally on June 6, 1909 the mission saw an island in the Paracel islands and stopped at several islands. And on June 7, at 4 pm, the two gunboats returned to Guangzhou."

According to these articles, the "survey" by the Guangdong government was conducted for form’s sake. But the survey team was brutal when they arrested many Vietnamese fishermen and their families and took them to Hainan Island.

Soon after that, the Hanoi-based Advertiser newspaper reported on a survey on June 29, 1909.

The newspaper published many articles about the next moves of the Guangzhou government after the survey, defining this action as an "invasion" and provided evidence for Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa.

As the French colonial state did not want to create tension with China in order to expand its influence and interests in this country, France reacted only moderately against these acts. On the other hand, France said that the survey of the local government of a country did not have any legal value.

The Xinhai Revolution (1911) occurred in China and the Qing Dynasty was overthrown. The Republic of China was formed. The plan to occupy Hoang Sa was promoted on a larger scale so the Indochinese press started to raise a bigger voice.

On November 1, 1933, La Nature newspaper published an article criticizing the indifferent attitude of the French government in Annam (Viet Nam).

"The French government established their domination in Annam. The islands of the Paracel Islands belong to An Nam so France has the ownership and responsibility to take care of this new territory. We must say that they (France) have completely ignored this responsibility until today".

From 1931 to 1933, journalist Cucherousset published seven articles in the L'Éveil Économique de L'Indochine (E.E.I ) newspaper in the 685, 688, 743, 744, 746, 777 and 790 editions. In the series, the author criticized the attitude of Governor Pasquier in handling the defense of sovereignty over Hoang Sa.

He wrote: "Annam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands is undeniable but this time is not a chance to confirm that sovereignty". He questioned the Governor: "Why this moment is not the opportunity? Which obstacles that have prevented Annam from claiming the sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, which they have owned for hundreds of years? Do we have to wait until the Japanese exploit the last tons of phosphate? Or is it true that the Japanese have paid a reasonable commission for someone?"

Because of these articles, this newspaper was searched at night and the writer was forced to submit his documents related to these articles. In an article in edition 743, Cucherousset strongly opposed the order and refused to submit the documents. In issue 746, Cucherousset wrote that without his articles, the French authorities would have ignored China’s occupation of the Paracels.

In issue 777 (dated February 26, 1933), Cucherousset continued to criticize Governor Pasquier of being too humble before the acts of the Guangdong authorities. He wrote: "Firstly, the Guangdong provincial government has never been recognized by France as an autonomous government. Secondly, the Chinese government in Beijing in the past and in Nanjing at present have never claimed this archipelago and have not acknowledged the sovereignty of Guangdong. Thirdly, for more than 100 years, Annam has adopted its sovereignty over the Paracel and this was noted in the archives of the Hue royal court. Moreover, the Guangzhou government cannot argue that Chinese fishermen often visiting the islands to catch turtles and dry their nets that the Paracels belong to China because French fishermen often do so at the coast of Terre Neuve, but Terre Neuve still belongs to the UK".

The article in the newspaper La Nature dated November 1, 1933 criticizing the French government’s indifference to Hoang Sa.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Advisory Council of Indochina, to answer a question from the representative of Annam, Mr. Piguax, Indochinese Governor Pasquier said the Paracel incident had been known in France and the Minister of Colonial Territories had decided to take the incident to the Hague international court.

Apart from EEI, many newspapers of the French in Indochina and in France also published articles about Vietnam's sovereignty in the Paracels. For example the Revue Indochinoise Illustree, No. 38, 1929 quoted many documents on Vietnam's sovereignty; the Guangdong government’s refused to take responsibility for the robberies on the sunken ships Le Bellona in 1895 and Imezi Maru in 1896, taken by fishermen of Hainan, because the Paracel Islands did not belong to China.

The Avenir du Tonkin Newspaper, No. 10495 (1931) asserted that in 1816, King Gia Long built a flagpole on the island so in 1909, when the Chinese claimed sovereignty for the islands, the French government had to confirm its right of defending these islands, etc. ..

Soon after that, the two largest national language newspapers, Nam Phong and Trung Bac Tan Van, published numerous articles fiercely opposing China’s violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa.

In 1933, Nam Phong magazine published many articles analyzing the arguments of Vietnam and China, through which showed China’s silly arguments about its sovereignty over Hoang Sa. The magazine also introduced historical evidence for Vietnam’s sovereignty over the islands.

In 1816 Emperor Gia Long officially administered Hoang Sa through building a flagpole and announcing Vietnam’s sovereignty there. In 1835, the Nguyen Dynasty built temples and steles and planted trees on the islands.

The Nam Phong magazine No. 6/1932 cited many useful documents proving Vietnam’s ownership and rejected China's vague arguments such as: “The Chinese government had refused its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa. In 1898, the British ships Belleon and Vuojimon sank near the Paracels. Chinese fishermen stole copper pieces on the ships. The British Consul stationed at Quynh Nhai port asked the Chinese government to help but they responded: "The Xisha Islands (Hoang Sa – Paracel) does not belong to China’s territory so China is not responsible for that incident."

The magazine concluded: "The evidence of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracels is more authentic than China’s because Vietnam declared its sovereignty earlier than China", and "Hoang Sa has belonged to Vietnam’s territory for over a hundred years without any question."

In 1938, Japan jumped on the Paracel Islands. The Trung Bac Tan Van newspaper immediately analyzed the history of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the islands through the article “Paracel Islands has belonged to Vietnam for over a hundred years," which cited many ancient historical books.

In addition to citing the Vietnamese geological history books written about Hoang Sa and the history of Vietnam's sovereignty claims for the islands, this newspaper also quoted studies and surveys of France over the islands, including research works by Mr. Krempf, director of the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute, conducted in Hoang Sa in 1926 and 1931.

On July 17, 1938, this newspaper again emphasized the sovereignty of Vietnam over the Paracels.

It is clear from the early 20th century when China began eyeing Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, not only the government but the press at home and abroad were interested in Hoang Sa - Truong Sa and protested China’s violation acts.

To be continued…

Duy Chien

Part 1: Ancient records show Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa - Truong Sa

Part 3: Nguyen Dynasty rescued French vessels in East Sea

Part 5: Hoang Sa - Truong Sa belong to Vietnam: Chinese documents

Part 7: International conference refutes China’s nominal sovereignty

Part 8: China illegally seizes Hoang Sa Islands

Part 9: The road to the Gac Ma Reef event