Battle of the Paracel Islands

2025-05-09T14:45:44Z

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{{Short description|Naval battle}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of the Paracel Islands
| image = Paracel Islands-CIA WFB Map-2.JPG
| image_size = 320
| date = 19–20 January 1974 (1 day)
| place = [[Paracel Islands]]
| partof = the [[Vietnam War]]
| result = Chinese victory
| territory = China establishes full control over the Paracels
| combatant1 = {{flag|China|name=China}}
* {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of China.svg}} [[People's Liberation Army Navy of China]]
| combatant2 = {{flag|South Vietnam|name=South Vietnam}}
* {{flagicon image|Naval ensign of South Vietnam.svg}} [[Republic of Vietnam Navy]]
| commander1 = {{plainlist|
*{{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of China.svg}} [[Zhang Yuanpei]]
*{{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of China.svg}} [[Wei Mingsen]]
}}
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Naval ensign of South Vietnam.svg}} [[Lâm Ngươn Tánh]] {{flagicon image|Naval ensign of South Vietnam.svg}} [[Hà Văn Ngạc]] {{flagicon image|Naval ensign of South Vietnam.svg}} {{ill|Hồ Văn Kỳ Thoại|vi}} {{flagicon image|Naval ensign of South Vietnam.svg}} [[Ngụy Văn Thà]]{{KIA}} {{flagicon image|Naval ensign of South Vietnam.svg}} {{ill|Huỳnh Duy Thạch|vi}}{{KIA}}
| strength1 = {{Indented plainlist|
* 2 minesweepers
* 2 submarine chasers
* Patrol ships
* Infantry
* [[Maritime Militia (China)|Militia]]
}}
| strength2 = {{Indented plainlist|
* 1 destroyer
* 2 frigates
* 1 minesweeper
* Commandos
}}
| casualties1 = {{Indented plainlist|
* 18 killed{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}
* 67 wounded{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}
* 2 minesweepers damaged{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}
* 2 submarine chasers damaged{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}
}}
| casualties2 = {{Indented plainlist|
* 100+ killed and wounded{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}
* 48 captured{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}
* 1 minesweeper sunk
* 1 destroyer heavily damaged
* 2 frigates damaged
}}
}}

{{campaignbox Vietnam War}}

The '''Battle of the Paracel Islands''' (Chinese: 西沙海战 (pinyin Xisha haizhan)；Vietnamese: Hải chiến Hoàng Sa) was an engagement between the [[China|Chinese]] and [[South Vietnam|South Vietnamese]] navies near the [[Paracel Islands]] on January 19, 1974. The battle was part of an attempt by the [[Republic of Vietnam Navy|South Vietnamese navy]] to remove the [[People's Liberation Army Navy|Chinese navy]] from the area towards the end of the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name=navytimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/03/14/speed-forward-fight-close-and-hit-hard-how-china-won-the-battle-of-the-paracel-islands/|title=‘Speed forward, fight close and hit hard’ — How China won the Battle of the Paracel Islands|newspaper=Navy Times|date=March 15, 2019}}</ref>

Prior to the conflict, part of the Paracel Islands was controlled by [[China]] and another part was controlled by [[South Vietnam]]. The battle resulted in a victory for China over South Vietnam. Consequently, China occupied the portion formerly controlled by South Vietnam and established full ''de facto'' control over the Paracels.<ref name=navytimes />

== Background ==
=== Confrontation in the Paracels ===
{{main|Paracel Islands#Territorial disputes and their historical background}}
The Paracels are in the [[South China Sea]] approximately 300 kilometers south of China and 370 kilometers east Vietnam. The islands are divided into the northern Amphitrite Group, and the Crescent Group 80 kilometers to the southwest. The islands were subject to overlapping territorial claims by multiple countries. By the early 1970s, the Amphitrite Group and Crescent Group were controlled by China and South Vietnam respectively, and both countries were engaged in [[hydrocarbon exploration]].{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|pp=44-56}}

Tensions between China and South Vietnam in the South China Sea increased starting from the summer of 1973. South Vietnam claimed additional islands in the [[Spratly Islands|Spratlys]] to the south, and Chinese fishing ships established operations in the Crescent Group. Confrontations between the fishing ships and [[Republic of Vietnam Navy]] (RVNN) warships began in November 1973. On 14 January 1974, RVNN frigate ''[[Barnegat-class seaplane tender|HQ-16]]'' fired warning shots at Chinese fishing ships near [[Robert Island (Paracel Islands)|Robert Island]] and shelled the Chinese flag erected on the island. The frigate was joined by the destroyer ''[[Edsall-class destroyer escort|HQ-4]]'' on 17 January, which landed commandos to remove more flags on Robert and [[Money Island, Paracel Islands|Money Islands]]. The frigate ''[[Barnegat-class seaplane tender|HQ-5]]'' and minesweeper ''[[Admirable-class minesweeper|HQ-10]]'' arrived in the evening.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|pp=46-47}}

=== China's response ===
China deployed forces after the RVNN presence was reported by fishing ships.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=47}} The [[People's Liberation Army Navy]]'s (PLAN) response was improvised.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=55}} The fleet was in disrepair due to the [[Cultural Revolution]].{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|pp=47-48}} [[Command and control]] was poor throughout the operation.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=55}}

On 16 January, two [[Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser]]s, ''271'' and ''274'', were ordered to [[Woody Island (South China Sea)|Woody Island]] in the Amphitrite Group from the [[Yulin Naval Base]] in [[Hainan]]. They resupplied and embarked [[Maritime Militia (China)|Maritime Militia]] at Woody the next day before proceeding to the Crescent Group. A [[Shenyang J-6]] escorted the ships south, but it was operating at extreme range and had only five minutes of loiter time over the Paracels. The ships were ordered not to cause trouble, not to fire first, and not to "get the worst of it."{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=47}} Four ten-member militia platoons deployed onto Duncan, Drummond, and Palm Islands early on 18 January.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=47}}

More distant PLAN ships were ordered south as ''271'' and ''274'' reached the Crescent Group: the [[Guangzhou]]-based [[T43-class minesweeper|T010 minesweepers]] ''389'' and ''396'', and the [[Shantou]]-based [[Type 037 corvette|Hainan class submarine chasers]] ''281'' and ''282''. ''389'' had just finished major repairs and had not yet been cleared for service. The [[South Sea Fleet]]'s two Type 065 frigates were out-of-service due to mechanical problems.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|pp=47-48}}

The RVNN had larger ships, and larger guns with longer range. To this the PLAN's ships had maneuverability and speed.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=49}}

The weather remained good throughout the operation. Poor weather, and its impact on [[seakeeping]], would have had a greater effect on the smaller PLAN ships.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=55}}

== Battle ==

=== Naval engagement ===
On the morning of 19 January, the RVNN divided into two groups — ''HQ-4'' with ''HQ-5'' and ''HQ-10'' with ''HQ-16'' — which approached the PLAN from different directions. The first group was monitored by ''271'' and ''274'', and latter was shadowed by ''389'' and ''396''. ''HQ-16'' forced its way through, ramming and damaging ''389'', and launched boats with commandos toward Duncan and Palm Islands. The Chinese militia killed one commando and wounded three others; the commandos retreated back to their ship.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=48}}

Unable to dislodge the Chinese, the RVNN opened fire on the PLAN, and aimed for [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]]s. ''274''{{'}}s [[political commissar]], Feng Songbai, was killed. ''389'' was set on fire and began flooding. The faster PLAN closed the range to tens of meters, sheltering in the blind spots of the RVNN's deck guns and negating the RVNN's firepower advantage. At such ranges the PLAN's smaller guns were effective. The Chinese aimed at command posts, and communications and sensor equipment. ''271'' and ''274'' attacked ''HQ-4'', which began filling with smoke. ''389'' and ''396'' forced ''HQ-16'' to retreat, then attacked ''HQ-10''; ''HQ-10''{{'}}s [[Magazine (artillery)|magazine]] exploded and her captain was killed by small-arms fire. ''HQ-4'', ''HQ-5'', and ''HQ-16'' retreated to the west and did not reengage. ''389''{{'}}s fire could not be extinguished and she was beached on Duncan Island.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=49}}

''281'' and ''282'' were delayed by slow communications{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=55}} and arrived after noon. They sank ''HQ-10'' south of Antelope Reef.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=49}}

=== China occupies the Crescent Group ===
China moved quickly to exploit the naval victory. The South Sea Fleet deployed three amphibious assault flotillas to capture the Crescent Group islands. The first flotilla had four patrol craft and two fishing boats carrying an infantry company. The second flotilla had four patrol craft and ''396'' carrying an infantry company and an amphibious reconnaissance team. The third flotilla was a frigate which acted as the command ship and carried an infantry company. In all, there were 500 troops including militia.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}

On the morning of 20 January, troops from the first flotilla captured Robert Island in about ten minutes. Shortly after, the second flotilla attacked Pattle Island; 30 South Vietnamese troops, including an [[Army of the Republic of Vietnam|RVN army]] major, and a United States (US) liaison officer were captured. Money Island was abandoned by RVN commandos and captured without fighting.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=50}}

==Aftermath==

=== Chinese consolidation ===
China continued to reinforce the Paracels in anticipation of a counterattack by South Vietnam. These included three [[East Sea Fleet]] [[Type 053 frigate#Versions|Type 01]] frigates, armed with [[Silkworm (missile)|SY-1]] [[anti-ship missile]]s. [[Mao Zedong]] ordered the ships to sail through the [[Taiwan Strait]], the fastest route but which exposed them to attack from [[Taiwan]]; the ships transited without incident. The South Sea Fleet's three [[Romeo-class submarine|Type 033]] submarines conducted patrols; at the height of the crisis one was authorized to attack RVNN ships moving toward the islands. By July 1974, tensions had eased and China began its effort to expand its permanent presence in the Paracels.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|p=51}}

=== South Vietnamese threats ===
South Vietnam tried to raise a complaint against China in the [[United Nations Security Council]], but gave up on 25 January due to the Chinese veto.<ref name="Gwertzman">{{Cite news |last=Gwertzman |first=Bernard |date=26 January 1974 |title=Peking Reports Holding U.S. Aide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/01/26/archives/peking-reports-holding-us-aide.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, NY |access-date=20 July 2016 }}</ref>

President [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]] traveled to [[Da Nang]] to supervise the response. The armed forces went on heightened alert. The RVNN deployed ships to Da Nang and the Paracels. No counterattack occurred. China had secured local superiority, especially with the arrival of the PLAN's Type 01 frigates.{{sfn|Yoshihara|2016|pp=50-51}} The United States refused South Vietnam's requests for assistance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 January 1974 |title=U.S. Cautioned 7th Fleet to Shun Paracels Clash |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1974/01/22/97464621.html?pageNumber=3 |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Reuters |access-date=22 December 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 January 1974 |title=Chinese, Viet Rift Shunned by U.S. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5952220// |newspaper=Albuquerque Journal |location=Albuquerque, NM |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=22 December 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref>

=== South Vietnamese casualties ===
The South Vietnamese reported that the warship ''Nhật Tảo'' was sunk and ''Lý Thường Kiệt'' heavily damaged, while ''Trần Khánh Dư'' and ''Trần Bình Trọng'' were both slightly damaged. 75 South Vietnamese soldiers, including Captain Ngụy Văn Thà of ''Nhật Tảo'', were killed, and 16 were wounded.<ref name=thanhnien2014>[http://thanhnien.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/hai-chien-hoang-sa/danh-sach-cac-quan-nhan-viet-nam-cong-hoa-hi-sinh-trong-hai-chien-hoang-sa-1974-5837.html Danh sách các quân nhân Việt Nam Cộng Hòa hi sinh trong Hải chiến Hoàng Sa 1974], Thanh Niên Online, 09/01/2014</ref> On January 20, 1974, the Dutch tanker, ''Kopionella'', found and rescued 23 survivors of the sunken ''Nhật Tảo''. On January 29, 1974, South Vietnamese fishermen found 15 South Vietnamese soldiers near Mũi Yến ([[Qui Nhơn]]) who had fought on Quang Hòa island and escaped in lifeboats.

After their successful amphibious assault on January 20, the Chinese held 48 prisoners, including an American advisor.{{ref|tu-binh}} They were later released in [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] through the [[Red Cross]].

=== Chinese casualties ===
The Chinese claimed that even though its ships had all been hit numerous times, none of them had been sunk. Warships ''271'' and ''396'' suffered speed-reducing damage to their engines, but both returned to port safely and were repaired. ''274'' was damaged more extensively and had to stop at [[Woody Island, South China Sea|Yongxing Island]] for emergency repairs. It returned to [[Hainan]] under its own power the next day.<ref name="Battle for Paracel Islands">Carl O. Schustser. [http://www.historynet.com/battle-paracel-islands.htm "Battle for Paracel Islands".]</ref>

''389'' was damaged the most by an engine room explosion. Its captain managed to run his [[Ship grounding|ship aground]] and put out the fire with the help of the minesweepers. It was then towed back to base. 18 Chinese sailors were killed and 67 were wounded in the battle.<ref name="Battle for Paracel Islands"/>

=== Aftermath ===
The "Operation Tran Hung Dao 48" was a campaign conducted by the South Vietnamese Navy from 30 January 1974 to station troops on unoccupied islands to assert Vietnam's [[sovereignty]] over the [[Spratly archipelago]] after the Battle of the Paracel Islands.<ref name=":2">{{cite magazine|last=Tien|first=Tran Nam|date=2023-05-15|title=The government of the Republic of Vietnam exercised and defended its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (1956-1975)|url=http://stdjssh.scienceandtechnology.com.vn/index.php/stdjssh/article/view/860|journal=VNUHCM Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities|language=en|volume=7|issue=1|pages=1899–1908|doi=10.32508/stdjssh.v7i1.860|issn=2588-1043}}</ref>

A potential diplomatic crisis was averted when China released the American prisoner taken during the battle. Gerald Emil Kosh, 27, a former U.S. Army captain, was captured with the South Vietnamese on Pattle Island. He was described as a “regional [[liaison officer]]” for the [[US Embassy, Saigon|American embassy in Saigon]] on assignment with the South Vietnamese Navy.<ref name="Gwertzman"/> China released him from custody on January 31 without comment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,908427,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214061807/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,908427,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 14, 2007|title=The World: Storm in the China Sea - TIME}}</ref><ref name="NYT31Jan74">{{Cite news |date=31 January 1974 |title=American Captured on Disputed Island is Freed by China |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1974/01/31/79639226.html?pageNumber=4 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, NY |agency=Reuters |access-date=20 July 2016 }}</ref>

The leaders of [[North Vietnam]] gave a glimpse of their worsening relationship with China by conspicuously not congratulating their ally. An official communique issued by the [[Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam]] mentioned only its desire for a peaceful and negotiated resolution for any local territorial dispute. In the wake of the battle, North Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister [[Nguyễn Cơ Thạch]] told the Hungarian ambassador to Hanoi that "there are many documents and data on Vietnam's archipelago." Other North Vietnamese cadres told the Hungarian diplomats that in their view, the conflict between China and the Saigon regime was but a temporary one. However, they later said the issue would be a problem of the entire Vietnamese nation.<ref>Balázs Szalontai, Im lặng nhưng không đồng tình. BBC Vietnam, March 24, 2009: http://www.bbc.co.uk/vietnamese/vietnam/2009/03/090324_paracels_hanoi_reassessment.shtml .</ref>

After the reunification of Vietnam in July 1976, the [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] publicly renewed its claim to the Paracels by succeeding all claims from the provisional [[Republic of South Viet Nam|Republic of South Vietnam]] government, which itself had directly replaced and inherited all rights of the [[Republic Of Vietnam|Republic of Vietnam]]. Hanoi has carefully praised the South Vietnamese forces that took part in the battle, while trying to avoid praising the [[South Vietnam|South Vietnamese regime]].<ref>For an overview of Hanoi's reactions to the Chinese occupation of the Paracels in 1974–1975, see also Chi-kin Lo, ''China's Policy toward Territorial Disputes. The Case of the South China Sea Islands'' (London and New York: Routledge, 1989), pp. 86–98.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Naval history of China]]
* [[Johnson South Reef Skirmish]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Yoshihara |first1=Toshi |title=The 1974 Paracels Sea Battle: A Campaign Appraisal |url=https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol69/iss2/6/ |journal=Naval War College Review |volume=69 |number=2 |publisher=U.S. Naval War College |date=2016 }}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* ''New York Times'', "Saigon Says China Bombs 3 Isles and Lands Troops". 1/20/74.
* ''New York Times'', "23 Vietnamese Survivors of Sea Battle Are Found". 1/23/74.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070506213733/http://www.xuquang.com/dialinhnk/hsrinh.html Overview of the battle by a Vietnamese officer]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060308145207/http://members.tripod.com/paracels74/hoangsahaichien.htm The Official Document of The Republic Of Vietnam's Armed Forces about the Paracels Naval Battle in 1974]
* [http://www.mevietnam.org/lanhtho-lanhhai/feer-dispute.html Paracels Islands Dispute]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130806084612/http://www.nguyenthaihocfoundation.org/lichsuVN/m_bienkhao.php A Collection of Documents on Paracel and Spratly Islands by Nguyen Thai Hoc Foundation]}}
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/paracel.htm GlobalSecurity.org]

{{PRC conflicts}}

{{South China Sea}}
{{Coord|16|30|N|111|38|E|dim:100000_region:CN|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paracel Islands 1974}}
[[Category:Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1974]]
[[Category:History of the Paracel Islands]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving China]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving South Vietnam]]
[[Category:1974 in China]]
[[Category:1974 in South Vietnam]]
[[Category:20th-century naval battles]]
[[Category:History of the South China Sea]]
[[Category:People's Liberation Army Navy]]
[[Category:Republic of Vietnam Navy]]
[[Category:January 1974 in Asia]]
[[Category:Wars between China and Vietnam]]
[[Category:China–Vietnam relations]]
[[Category:Spillover of the Vietnam War]]

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Battle of the Paracel Islands