These disputes aren't new. In 1974 the South Vietnamese lost a major engagement in the Paracel Archipelago and in 1988 the Socialist Republic of Vietnam lost three vessels and 64 sailors/marines. These are just the significant engagements that have been recorded for us to see. I have no doubt that saber rattling takes place on a regular basis within the shoals and islands of the archipelagos.
The Vietnamese have records that show a line of possession that would be hard to dispute, unless you were a much larger country with more money and might to say differently. China has laid claim to everything in both island chains in their description of a Cow's Tongue. With reason out the window, Vietnam has turned to her friends in the U.S. and Russia, in part to mediate and also to purchase weapons.
A quick look at offensive weapons the Vietnamese are acquiring backs up the Vietnamese affirmation that they will not peacefully give up their claims to either island chain. The Vietnamese have 20 Sukhoi SU-30 Flanker Cs, and according to reports in August have put in an order for 12 more. They also own 14 SU-27s from earlier purchases. It is easy to find that the purpose of these latest generation fighters is to defend their claims to the Spratlys and Paracels. The Vietnamese have also bolstered there Navy with the purchase of new Gepard class frigates, Tarantul Corvettes, and they are making their own modern patrol boats designed specifically to take out landing crafts and troops. Gone are the days of the SRV purchasing Yugo class subs from the Koreans (My sister once purchased a Yugo. It wasn't a submarine, but I have no doubt she would call it a piece of shit!)
Newly elected Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, a young foreign affairs diplomat with a Western education, a lot of diplomatic experience and a good relationship with the U.S., has already made commitments to the people to protect Vietnamese sovereignty in the archipelagos.
I have seen references in Vietnamese language newspapers to preserving peace in the East Sea through strength. These slogans are often followed by articles about the latest weapons soon to fill their arsenal, 6 Kilo-Class 636 submarines purchased and built in Russia.
VNEXPRESS.NET posted a great article on these submarines that I translated below:
Vietnam's Kilo Class
Submarine Hanoi
Thursday,
November 07, 2013
3:27 PM
Important
milestones of submarine Hanoi
The Hanoi, the first
Vietnamese kilo-class submarine, has undergone many tests with excellent
results, and has been prepared to be turned over to the Vietnamese Navy.
Links:
Ordered during an
official Vietnamese leadership visit to Russia at the end of 2009, Submarine
Hanoi, the first in the order of six, underwent a long process from production
to testing, and now is ready for the handover.
In this 28 August 2013
photo, Kilo-class type 636 submarine Hanoi is placed on the launching docks in
preparation for the official christening at the Admiraltei Verfi Ship Factory,
in St. Petersberg City, Northern Russia.
Submarine HQ-182 Hanoi began construction on 25 August 2010. 53 Vietnamese officers and sailors trained on the submarine for many months in Russia. In the photo are the sailors of the submarine Hanoi at the christening.
The Hanoi is the first
Kilo-class submarine of the six contracted vessels purchased from Russia to be
launched. This ship is well-known for it
quiet and stealth in operations. In the
photo is the traditional ceremony before the launch.
The christening took
place according to traditional etiquette and with Russian cultural activities
in August last year.
The leadership at the
Admiraltei Verfi Ship Factory presented the Vietnamese Navy leaders a model of
the Kilo-class type 636 submarine Hanoi at the christening ceremony.
The Hanoi, anchored at
the factory harbor during the completion of the tower.
Early in December
2012, the Hanoi went a sea for the first time, officially starting the
factory's testing phase. The photo is
the Hanoi when preparing to depart the harbor.
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