China\'s Quest. The History of the Foreign Relations of the People\'s Republic of China - John Garver

Countering Soviet Encirclement } 323

five months later with Hanoi’s complete victory. Hanoi was already moving
uncomfortably close toward Moscow, at least from Beijing’s perspective. On
the other hand, Beijing could be confident that the United States would not
oppose China’s seizure of the Paracels. Before seizing the Crescent Group,
Beijing had tested the US attitude. In spring 1972, Beijing protested, pri-
vately, that US vessels had intruded into Chinese territorial waters around
the Paracel Islands.^20 The United States replied to Beijing’s protest by ignoring
the sovereignty issue and indicating that the US navy would be instructed to
stay at a distance of twelve miles from the islands. Twelve miles was the terri-
torial limit claimed by the PRC. Washington thereby signaled acquiescence to
China’s claim. Beijing’s rapprochement with the United States had created a

C HINA

V

I

E

T

N

A

M

P

H

I

L

I

P

P

I

N

E

S

VIETNAM

HAINAN

Pratas

Island

PARACEL

ISLANDS

SPRATLY

ISLANDS

South China

Sea

Amphitrite

Crescent Group

Group

F IGU R E 12-1 The Paracels Islands and the 1974 “Recovery” Operation