Copies of old documents showing Vietnam's marine sovereignty at an exhibition (Photo: VNA) Kien Giang (VNA) – Phu Quoc Island of the Mekong Deta province of Kien Giang is hosting a map and document exhibition, giving locals an insight into Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.
The event was opened on July 5 by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Naval Zone 5 High Command at the latter’s headquarters in An Thoi township of Phu Quoc.
The exhibits include copies of documents written in Han – Nom script, Vietnamese and French by Vietnam’s feudal dynasties and the French administration in Indochina from the 17th century to the early 20th century. They evidence Vietnam’s establishment, exercise and protection of its sovereignty over the two archipelagoes in the East Sea.
Administrative documents issued by the Republic of Vietnam in the south from 1954 until it fell in 1975, and by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since 1975 also demonstrate the exercise and protection of the sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa and other seas and islands the country owns.
Some exhibited publications printed by Western countries from the 18th to the 19th century are also proof of Vietnam’s ownership of the two chains of islands.
Among the maps on display, there are 30 maps published by China in different historical periods. They show completely that China did not control Hoang Sa and Truong Sa that it calls Xisha and Nansha respectively.
A copy of the map Partie de la Cochichine in volume 2 of the six-volume Atlas Universel, published by Belgian geographer Philippe Vandermaelen (1795 – 1869) in 1827, also shows Hoang Sa archipelago under Vietnam’s sovereignty.
The exhibition also showcases research and publications on Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea issued by Vietnamese and foreign experts since 1975.
After the event wraps up on July 7, the Ministry of Information and Communications will present all the displayed items to the Naval Zone 5 High Command to serve future dissemination activities.-VNA
