John J. Xenakis
breitbart.com
January 16, 2014
Up until recently, Vietnamese policy was to very carefully avoid offending
China, even to the point of using security forces to crush any civilian
anti-China protests. However, Vietnam has apparently now completely reversed
that policy.
The occasion is the anniversary of a naval clash between South Vietnamese and
Chinese naval forces on January 19, 1974. China’s superior naval power crushed
the Vietnamese forces, and China seized some of the Paracel Islands controlled
by Vietnam and has occupied them ever since.
For forty years, Vietnam has never mentioned the battle for fear of offending
China; it’s not even included in modern history books. Now, however, Vietnam’s
state media is publicly marking the event and printing numerous articles on the
subject, describing how the islands were taken by China by force and the heroic
actions of the Vietnamese sailors. Public meetings have been held to commemorate
the battle, and there are calls to recognize the “martyrdom” of the fallen
soldiers and offer support to their families.
Read more
Thursday, January 16, 2014
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