The Truth about Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng's Diplomatic Note and Vietnam's Sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa (Spratly) Archipelagos

Abstract

A diplomatic note, dated 9 June 2014, from the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Secretary-General (A/68/907)1, confirmed the installation of the HYSY 981 oil rig in the territorial waters of the Hoàng Sa archipelago. In this official correspondence, China mentioned Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng's diplomatic note, addressed to Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai in 1958, as well as several other documents purporting to show evidence that Vietnam recognizes China's sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa archipelagos. China's distortion of Phạm Văn Đồng's diplomatic note is believed to be a scheme conceived to negate Vietnam's Iegal sovereignty over the two archipelagos and create doubts among the international community, which may eventually prevent Vietnam from fighting to protect its sovereignty through the legal system, including the possibility of bringing the case to the International Court of Justice.