A picture of Truong Sa island of Vietnam (File photo)

The Spratly Archipelago of Vietnam lies to the South of the East Sea within from 6⁰30’ to 12⁰ North and from 111⁰00 to 117⁰20’ East, about 248 nautical miles from Cam Ranh bay (Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam) and about 600 nautical miles from Hainan island (China). This is a group of over 100 islands, reefs, cays spreading an area of about 180000 km² and occupying a vast sea in the Southeast of Vietnam. Basing on the location and distance among islands and reefs, the Spratly archipelago is divided into 8 groups: North Danger, Thitu, Loaita, Namyit, Sin Cowe, Spratly, Investigator, and Flat.

Generally, the islands and reefs of the archipelago are small (up to dozens of acre) of which Itu Aba (Ba Binh) is the largest with total area of 0,6 km² . The average height of the islands and reefs ranges from 3m to 5m with South West Cay being the highest one of 4 to 6m. The islands and reefs consist mainly of coral sand mixed with guano and humus of about 5 to 10cm thick. Some islands have groundwater which can generate fresh water dwells, such as South West Cay, Northeast Cay, Spratly, etc. This fresh water source is of paramount importance to the civil inhabitants and the development of fishery logistics services on them. Apart from islands, there are also under water reefs, corals, such as Sin Cowe East, Fiery Cross, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef, McKennan Reef, Discovery Great Reef, Barque Canada Reef, etc.

There are two seasons on the  Archipelago: dry season (from January to May) and rainy season (June to December) with heavy rain fall of over 2.500 mm. Extreme weather conditions such as thunderstorm and cyclone happen all year round. The islands also frequently suffers from devastated tropical storms.

Flora on Truong Sa is vivid with some tropical trees and grasses. Fauna there is also various in species with some rare and specious creatures such as lobster, green sea turtle, tuna, etc.

For centuries, Vietnam has been the first country to discover, manage and exercise its sovereignty over the Spratly islands (when it was still a terra nullius) in a continuous and peaceful manner in accordance with international laws, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. In reality, Vietnam has established state administration at district level, built up houses, schools, medical clinics, pagodas, roads for its inhabitants on the islands. On some islands, Vietnam has built lighthouses for navigation safety. Especially, on Spratly and Southwest Cay islands, Vietnam’s meteorological stations have operated permanently and been listed in the world climate observation networks.

However, recently, some countries have occupied and claimed their sovereignty over some islands among those of the Spratly archipelago of Vietnam. Vietnam resolutely opposes and condemns those actions while reaffirms that it has sufficient legal foundations and historical evidents to prove its sovereignty over the islands in accordance with international laws.

Hai Bang