The problem of sovereignty over the Paracels Islands and the Spratly Islands in the relations between the State of Vietnam and the French Republic (1950-1955)

Abstract

During the second war of invasion of Vietnam (September 1945), the French colonialists established a puppet government to serve the “new colonial” rule. After many trials, the State of Vietnam under the patronage of France was born in 1949. The French government recognized “the independence” of the State of Vietnam through the Élysée Agreement. On this basis, the French Government transferred management rights to many territories in Vietnam, including islands in the East Sea. Since 1950, the French Government transferred the management of the Paracels Islands to the State of Vietnam. However, the French Government did not transfer the Spratly Islands to the State of Vietnam because they originally belonged to Cochinchina. In the period 1950-1955, the State of Vietnam exercised the sovereignty over the Paracels Islands, and at the same time fought with the French Government to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands. The article focuses on 1) presenting the establishment of the State of Vietnam and its assertion of sovereignty over the Paracels Islands and Spratly Islands, 2) the process of taking over and exercising the sovereignty of the State of Vietnam over the Paracels Islands, and 3) the State of Vietnam struggling with the French Government to assert the sovereignty over the Spratly Islands.