Asia 833
Participants: 817 Republic of Vietnam/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: China demanded the release of a Chinese fishing boat and its crew that
were seized by the South Vietnamese near the disputed Paracel Islands. No details of
release could be found.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 4, 1961. End Date changed from
April 4, 1961.
MID#611
Started in May 1964. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/816 Vietnam
dyad dispute list.
MID#3217
Dispute Number: 3217
Date(s): January 31, 1974 to February 17, 1974
Participants: 817 Republic of Vietnam/710 China, 713 Taiwan, 840 Philippines
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: South Vietnam responded to the fighting with China in the Paracels (see
MID#355) by increasing its military presence in the Spratlys with warships. All other
claimants to the islands responded quickly with warships of their own. No shots were
fired though.
Coding changes: End Date changed from February 4, 1974.
MID#355
Dispute Number: 355
Date(s): January 16, 1974 to February 17, 1974
Participants: 817 Republic of Vietnam/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: 101–250 deaths
Narrative: The Paracel and Spratly Islands were under Japanese control during World
War II. After the peace treaty was signed in 1951 Japan surrendered all territorial
rights to the islands, but who gained those islands was left ambiguous. In September
1973, South Vietnam issued a decree that incorporated the islands into one of its
provinces.
Then, on January 11, 1974, China issued a statement that stated the Vietnam’s
decree was a “wanton infringement of China’s territorial integrity and sover-
eignty.” The statement also reaffirmed their claim to the Paracels and Spratlys.
South Vietnam responded by sending warships to the islands.
Clashes occurred between the Chinese ships that were stationed there and the
South Vietnamese ships. On January 16, Chinese forces landed on the Paracels,
and South Vietnamese troops landed on another island. Another clash occurred on