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Ceremony at "Exhibition of Hoang Sa – Truong Sa – East Sea Collection” at Social Sciences Library |
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Prof. Dr. Vo Khanh Vinh – Deputy President of VASS, representatives of assistant units of VASS; member units belonged to; as well as local press and media have participated in the Opening ceremony. Also, there is the participation of whole staff of Institute of Social Sciences Information (ISSI).
The exhibition room displayed 8 groups with total more than 190 documents including 24 maps, 4 pictures, 40 books in Vietnamese, 24 magazines in Vietnamese, 37 volumes of Wakening Indochina Economy; 35 books in French before 1954; 5 new Latin books and 20 books in ancient Chinese. Coming to the exhibition, viewers had chance to access to ancient Chinese documents published from 1178 to 1951 which wrote about Chinese history through dynasties as Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Qing, Republic of China and People’s Republic of China but all did not mention about Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (or known as Sansha, Nansha) as parts of China. The exhibition especially displayed the text book about Chinese history released in 1950 and edited in 1951 in Beijing. This book was used for teaching for Chinese public to identify China’s Southern pole is Hainan island and Chinese map inside the book did not have Hoang Sa and Truong Sa too.
Besides, maps of European (15th century), maps of Chinese, Japanese, French which were drawn about China’s position and circumstance since end of the 19th century – early of the 20th century. All these materials clearly pointed out Southern pole of Hainan Island is belonged to China while Indochina maps and Danang map (Tourane) made by French in early of the 20th century even clarified that Hoang Sa belonged to Vietnam. Books about Vietnamese history which were translated from Chinese to Vietnamese and published since 1970 also offer many evidences of defining and implementing the authority of Vietnam in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa through feudal dynasties; especially, it is document of Gia Long King officially confirmed about the authority of Nguyen Dynasty towards Hoang Sa island in 1816.
Also, French documents provided many proof of Vietnam authority in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa during the French colonial period. They showed us a debate to define the maritime sovereignty between Vietnam and China since the 20th century. Books and magazines include articles which released the result of research work on East Sea, law of the sea, and operations as well as life of people in Hoang Sa, Truong Sa, and East Sea. They are evidence of implementation of Vietnam’s authority which are continuous and long lasted in here…
These materials are rare and precious so ISSI only display some original documents. The rest are basically copied versions which are digitalized but all of them are results of a hard work and many efforts after long time doing collection and researches of management and staff of ISSI led by Prof. Dr. Ho Si Quy – Chief Editor of Social Sciences Information Review.
Prof. Dr Vo Khanh Vinh has evaluated the importance of the event and distributed his congratulations for the Exhibition. He stressed on the social and historical meaning of the exhibition towards the protection of Vietnam’s authority in East Sea. These documents will be the supporting documents for researchers to build arguments against the illegal authority of China in East Sea. They are also evidences of the authority of Vietnam in long term towards these islands. Professor also expected that leaders and staff of ISSI would have more such activities to promote valuable information to public and international friends about the authority and protection of Vietnam for our own islands.
According to the schedule, exhibition will open daily and free from August 8th to September 8th, from 8.30 am to 16.30 pm (except Sundays) at No. 26 Ly Thuong Kiet Str, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Pham Vinh Ha
