The United States published a map of Vietnam with Hoang Sa, Truong Sa: incident or implication?

The fact that the US Embassy in Hanoi published a map of Vietnam with two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, and then changed the map, generated a lot of controversy.

On September 17, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke about the recent “map event” of the US Embassy.

Before that, the official Facebook page of the US Embassy on September 9 had an article looking at the 25-year partnership between Vietnam and the US. In particular, the article contains images of a map of Vietnam which includes the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

However, on September 15, after the press and public opinion stirred, the US Embassy replaced the new map with images of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa “disappearing.”

From Ho Chi Minh City, Master Hoang Viet – law lecturer, East Sea researcher – shared with Vietnamese BBC News: “It is difficult to say whether this is a clear intention on the American side or an incident, so still We don’t know. I am more inclined to the possibility of the incident because if they had the intention, then there was not such a rush to change. ”

“Maybe after giving this map, seeing the public’s attention, they will try to replace that map,” he said.

However, Hoang Viet also added the hypothesis: “Maybe the American side had a certain intention, but after that, the Vietnamese side feels that this is not beneficial to them in the context of the tense relations between the United States and China. To do it another way would lead China to think that Vietnam followed the United States against China. So maybe Vietnam asked the American side to replace that map. “

The fact that the United States published an article with a map with Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, two archipelagos that were the subject of a dispute between Vietnam and China and many other countries, created an exciting atmosphere on social media. . Many Vietnamese enthusiastically affirmed that this was a measure that showed that the United States supported Vietnam’s claim to sovereignty over these two archipelagos.

Khang Vu, who is presenting as a doctoral student in security and nuclear weapons in East Asia at Boston University, wrote on his personal Twitter: “The United States Embassy celebrates 25 years of relations between Vietnam and the United States with the The map has Hoang Sa and Truong Sa on it. Is this a sign that the United States supports Vietnam’s sovereignty over these two archipelagos? “

The lighthearted vibe was clearly on display on Vietnamese social media forums, where most believed that the United States supported Vietnam’s claim to sovereignty. Many commented: “The unprecedented event”, “America is an unprecedented good partner.”

Contrary to earlier excitement, after the US Embassy changed the map to a new map without Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, an atmosphere of anger engulfed social media.

As of the morning of September 18, the US Embassy Facebook post has received 6,900 emoticons, including 5,500 angry icons. Out of the more than 1,700 comments on the article, if the comments prior to September 15 contain a lot of exclamatory words like “great”, “welcome to the United States government”, then all comments are internal. Don’t express disappointment.

“America turns around as fast as it turns rice paper. So Vietnam has to be careful,” a person named Huyen Nguyen commented in this article.

The Facebook page of the Hoang Sa Data Center, a group that operates with maritime sovereignty in Vietnam, has published an article titled “The American Shuffle.”

“After 6 days, we lost our ‘2 potatoes’ … I suddenly remembered that America has the Eel family name for a long time … Whoever expected America to help Vietnam, please look for’ 2 potatoes ‘. wait, “wrote the author.

It is understood that “two potatoes” in the above extract are the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa

On her Facebook page, Mai Quoc An said: “I ask the US Embassy to immediately change the illustrated map covering the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa!”

Vietnamese BBC News contacted the US embassy in Hanoi by email on September 16, but has not received an official comment on the matter.

Although the Vietnamese government did not directly mention the US move, it used this occasion to deliver a family message.

At a regular press conference on September 17 in Hanoi, when asked about the US replacement of the aforementioned map, Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Thi Thu Hang said: “Vietnam is consistent with the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands are an inseparable part of Vietnamese territory. “

“The aforementioned consistent and consistent stance of Vietnam has been expressed many times in many different forms, including at the United Nations, and respected and supported by many countries,” Ms. Hang said.

Contrary to angry and critical musings about the United States, many argue that not supporting the sovereignty of the plaintiffs in the South China Sea is Washington’s consistent foreign policy and that will not change.

Journalist Do Hung wrote on his personal Facebook: “Please note that the United States’ opposition to China in the South China Sea is against harassment, against China’s claims that were rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the 2016. However, the United States’ position on specific disputes over entities in the South China Sea, in this case Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, does not yet publicly express support for the assertion of any party’s rights. “

According to journalist Do Hung, “in the interests of Vietnam, Vietnam continues to demand, just fighting to protect, without expecting the US to protect and demand.”

“The problem for Vietnam is handling the US response in its best interest, not expecting the US to support Vietnam’s claims in that way,” he added.

Dr. Luong Hoai Nam also personally shared his views on Facebook: “It has been the policy of the United States for decades not to take sides in the South China Sea dispute. Not only the United States, but all other powers as well. That policy it will not change who the president of the United States is. The United States and its allies protect freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law and this will not change.

“We should support the state to protect sovereignty in the South China Sea with knowledge, understanding rather than misconceptions, and attribute to the US or other countries things that are not in accordance with their policies and views ( to do so is essentially to deceive each other). The more you should not share false news, conspiracy theories that provoke national divisions, “he concluded.

Speaking to Vietnamese BBC News, Master Hoang Viet said that maybe people will pay attention to this because the United States is a power that the United States and China have tense issues in the South China Sea.

He commented: “After all, in this world, America is still the biggest superpower, so what America says, America affects not just Vietnam, but the entire world.”

“Without the United States, it is difficult for any country to avoid China’s aggressive actions and ambitions in the South China Sea. Therefore, American attitudes and statements are especially important not only to Vietnam, but to related ASEAN countries. with the issue of the South China Sea ”, he analyzed.

Master Hoang Viet also pointed out that the dispute over the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos is only part of the dispute in the South China Sea and a very complicated story.

“If you want to solve this, you will have to devise a mechanism before the International Court. The United States, Australia or the United Kingdom cannot replace the International Court to decide that this is under the sovereignty of one country or another,” he explained.

According to Hoang Viet, the United States needs to speak cautiously, if it cannot possibly like Vietnam, it is Vietnam’s claim.

“The Spratlys dispute involves many countries, including those that are allies of the United States, while Vietnam is just a partnership with the United States. If it is recognized as Vietnamese, then countries like the Philippines.” Will Malaysia be like? “Mr. Viet raised the problem.