CONFIDENTIAL
THT 19 Feb., 11 April, 28 March
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Saigon her. & Mochin D1 0850 Z
Cnese had taken possession of the Paracels the South Vietnamese sent troops to the Spratlys at the end of January to reinforce those already on Nam Yit* Island since September 1973 and to Occupy others in the group. By April South Vietnam claimed to have 200 troops on five islands in the group (apparently Nam Yit, Spratly Island, North East Cay+, Sand Cayo and Sin Cowe Island) and to be in control of' a sixth Amboyna Cay.
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In a statement of 4 February 1974 the Chinese Government vigorously protested against South Vietnam's occupation of the Spratlys and restated its own claims to the Spratlys and other islands in the South China Sea. The South Vietnamese responded by rejecting the Chinese claim and defending their right to reinforce the Spratlys. They also rejected the claims of the Chinese Nationalist authorities to the islands, of which the most recent had been made on 18 January. On 7 February the Nationalist Chinese authorities in Taiwan issued a further statement purporting to reaffirm their sovereignty over the Spratlys.
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Maunda 15FCO 2/2/744 V / Muli.
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Ro. 74.
In February 1974, the Philippines Government, sent Notes of
see para 4) protest over developments in the Spratlys (January 1974 to both the South Vietnamese and the Chinese Nationalist authorities reasserting its own claim, by right of occupation, to the five islands Lawak (Nanshan), Pagasa (Flat), Kota, Likas and Parolat - in the area described in the Notes as Kalayaan' (Freedom) and about 200 miles to the north east' of the Spratly Island Group. It is to be noted that this claim excluded both Patag (Thitu) which Philippines marines were reportedly occupying in 1971 and Itu Aba where they were said to have raised the Philippines flag (see para 33 of memorandum). However, this is not surprising, the present Philippines claim to islands in the area being based on the argument that they had previously been 'res nullius' (which was certainly untrue of Patag (Thitu), since it was one of the islands placed under French administration in 1933). Nor are the Philippines Government likely to contest ownership of Itu Aba which is reported to be occupied by a Chinese Nationalist garrison. Both the South Vietnamese and Chinese Nationalist authorities rejected the Philippines protest and reasserted their own claims to the Spratlys.
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South of Itu Aba on Tizard Bank and Reefs. Not shown on map
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On North Danger Reef. Not shown on map.
On Alicia Annie Reef. Not shown on map.
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The last three unidentified.
The Philippines apparently maintain
a lighthouse on Parola Island and a weather station on Pagasa Island. They are also said to maintain a token garrison on at least 3 of the 5 islands.
CONFIDENTIAL
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