Historical and legal evidence proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos is on display at an exhibition that opened in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on Monday. The event, jointly organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the provincial People’s Committee, is themed “Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.” The exhibition highlights a collection of nearly 200 maps, publications and objects that prove Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos in the East Vietnam Sea since the 17th century. Included in the materials are 65 maps created by the West, Vietnam and Chinese feudal states demonstrating that China did not manage the two archipelagos.   Notably, these maps show that the southernmost border of China is Hainan Island. The exhibition also includes many photos and documents reflecting the process in which Vietnam exercised and defended its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes since 1930, until China used force to occupy Hoang Sa on January 19, 1974, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Also on display are images and objects that show activities of Vietnamese law enforcement forces in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the East Vietnam Sea in May 2014, when China illegally planted its Haiyang Shiyou 981 oilrig in the zone. The exhibition will last until August 26. The ministry has conducted 35 exhibitions with the same theme nationwide since 2013, with a view to raise public awareness, promote solidarity and encourage the responsibility of Vietnamese nationals, especially youngsters, in protecting national territory. The ministry said it will organize such exhibitions in four countries including the U.S., France, Russia and the Czech Republic in the near future.

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