Sino-Vietnamese interests collide in the South China Sea: A case study of the disputed Paracel and Spratly archipelagos

Tensions resulting from contention over the many South China Sea archipelagos has highlighted the need for peace and stability within Asia. Despite the many nations that have a military presence on some of these noncontiguous islands and reefs, only mainland China and Vietnam have clashed using their military might. This research will examine two military incidents, the January 1974 Paracel and the March 1988 Spratly clashes, and the factors involved prior to and following these conflicts. By drawing information from prevalently primary sources collected from Foreign Broadcast Information Service, British Broadcasting Corporation, Summary of World Broadcast articles and Vietnamese and Chinese foreign ministry statements, this research will examine and then compare these statements with selected scholars' views and conclusions.; The purpose of this project is to juxtapose the two incidents and from the information collected, to suggest possible motives and interests that were involved. From the materials gathered, it became obvious that China's military consolidated the entire Paracel Archipelago under its control and gained a foothold deep in Southeast Asia by occupying numerous Spratly reefs. The fact that these actions simultaneously were directed against Vietnam suggests that Sino-Vietnamese interests and animosities had collided in the South China Sea.