View source for Johnson South Reef skirmish

{{Short description|1988 Chinese naval victory over Vietnam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Johnson South Reef Skirmish 
| partof            = the [[Third Indochina War]], [[Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979–91]] and the [[Spratly Islands dispute]]
| image             = Union Banks en.svg
| image_size        = 300px
| caption           = Map of the [[Union Banks]], where the skirmish occurred
| date              = 14 March 1988
| place             = [[Johnson South Reef]]
| coordinates       = {{Coord|9|43|N|114|17|E|source:kolossus-zhwiki_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| result            = Chinese victory<ref name="The Diplomat">{{cite web |last1=Koh |first1=Lean Collin |last2=Tri |first2=Ngo |title=Learning from the Battle of the Spratly Islands |url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/learning-from-the-battle-of-the-spratly-islands/ |work=The Diplomat |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=21 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121120037/https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/learning-from-the-battle-of-the-spratly-islands/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mark |first1=Mark |title=The Impact of the Johnson South Reef Skirmish on the South China Sea Conflict }}</ref>
| territory         = 
*China establishes control over Johnson South Reef
*Vietnam retains control over Collins Reef and Lansdowne Reef.
| combatant1        = {{flag|China}}
| combatant2        = {{flag|Vietnam}}
| commander1        = {{flagdeco|China|navy}} [[Chen Weiwen]]
| commander2        = {{Plain list|
* {{flagdeco|Vietnam|navy}} [[Trần Đức Thông]]{{KIA}}
* {{flagdeco|Vietnam|navy}} [[Lê Lệnh Sơn]]
* {{flagdeco|Vietnam|navy}} [[Vũ Phi Trụ]]{{KIA}}
* {{flagdeco|Vietnam|navy}} [[Vũ Huy Lê]]
}}
| units1            = {{Plain list|
* ''Nanchong'' (502) frigate
* ''Xiangtan'' (556) frigate
* ''Yingtan'' (531) frigate
}}
| units2            = {{Plain list|
* [[USS Bulloch County (LST-509)|''HQ-505'']] tank landing ship
* ''HQ-604'' transport
* ''HQ-605'' transport
}}
| casualties1       = '''Per China:'''{{Plain list|
* 1 wounded<ref name="地方志">{{cite book|author1=海南省地方志编纂委员会|title=海南省省志|date=22 November 1993|publisher=方志出版社|location=北京|isbn=9787514412376|language=zh-cn|chapter=第三章第四节 自卫反击战}}</ref><ref name="official_memoirs">{{Cite web|title=General Chen Weiwen recalls the Battle of Nansha|url=https://news.qq.com/a/20111222/000468.htm|accessdate=29 March 2021|date=22 December 2011|website=news.qq.com|publisher=现代舰船|archive-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429091050/http://news.qq.com/a/20111222/000468.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
'''Per Vietnam:'''{{Plain list|
* 6 killed<br>18 wounded<br>3 landing craft damaged<ref>{{Cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cYw7DwAAQBAJ&q=%E5%8D%97%E6%B2%99%E4%B9%8B%E6%88%B0+6+18&pg=PA469|title = _共_党_系90年__|isbn = 9787510809699|author1 = 余克_，_耀斌主_|date = January 2011| publisher=九州社 崧博出版社 |access-date = 20 September 2021|archive-date = 18 April 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220418122613/https://books.google.com/books?id=cYw7DwAAQBAJ&q=%E5%8D%97%E6%B2%99%E4%B9%8B%E6%88%B0+6+18&pg=PA469|url-status = live}}</ref>
}}

| casualties2       = {{Plain list|
* 64 killed<ref name="reuters20160314">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-vietnam-idUSKCN0WG0C9|title=Vietnam protesters denounce China on anniversary of navy battle|author1=Martin Petty|author2=Simon Cameron-Moore|publisher=Reuters|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-date=19 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519020032/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-vietnam-idUSKCN0WG0C9|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TTO06052016">{{cite news|url=http://tuoitre.vn/tin/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/20160314/le-tuong-niem-64-anh-hung-liet-si-bao-ve-gac-ma/1066969.html|title=Lễ tưởng niệm 64 anh hùng liệt sĩ bảo vệ Gạc Ma|author=TRƯỜNG TRUNG – QUỐC NAM|newspaper=Tuổi Trẻ|access-date=7 May 2016|archive-date=26 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326150424/http://tuoitre.vn/tin/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/20160314/le-tuong-niem-64-anh-hung-liet-si-bao-ve-gac-ma/1066969.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 11 wounded
* 9 captured<ref name="TN201304"/>
* 2 transporters sunk
* 1 tank landing ship destroyed
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979–1991)}}

The '''Johnson South Reef skirmish''' took place on 14 March 1988 between military forces of the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Vietnam]], on the [[Johnson South Reef]] in the [[Union Banks]] region of the [[Spratly Islands]], in the [[South China Sea]].

==Background==
The [[Spratly Islands]] are a group of over 100 small islands, reefs and atolls located in the [[South China Sea]]. They are the subject of [[Spratly Islands dispute|a territorial dispute]] between Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. At the time of the incident, both China and Vietnam claimed ownership of the entire island group.

The [[Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission]] (IOC) is a [[UNESCO]] body which coordinates international study in the field of [[oceanography]]. Scientists at the 14th congress of the IOC agreed that China would establish five observation posts for a worldwide ocean survey, the [[Global Sea Level Observing System]] (GLOSS), including one in the Spratly Islands.<ref name="koo9-154">{{Cite book |last=Koo |first=Min Gyo |title=Island Disputes and Maritime Regime Building in East Asia |date=2010 |publisher=Springer New York |isbn=978-0-387-89669-4 |series=The Political Economy of the Asia Pacific |location=New York, NY |pages=154 |doi=10.1007/978-0-387-89670-0}}</ref> The IOC officially commissioned China to build the observation post in March 1987.<ref name="koo9-154" /> China's delegate to the meeting spoke highly of GLOSS, but complained that a table in the agreement listed [[Taiwan]] as a country.<ref>Taiwan's official title is in fact the "[[Republic of China]]", though within Taiwan and internationally the nation is commonly referred to as "Taiwan, Republic of China", or simply "Taiwan".</ref><ref name="UNSCO1987">{{cite web |url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000751/075110EB.pdf |title=IOC. Assembly; 14th session; (Report) |page=41 |date=1 April 1987 |access-date=11 May 2016 |archive-date=2 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602190906/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000751/075110EB.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The scientists working on GLOSS were unaware that [[political status of Taiwan|China claims that Taiwan is not a separate country]]; nor did they know about [[Spratly Islands dispute|the territorial disputes over the Spratly Islands]]. The IOC agreement stated that China would install [[tide gauge]]s on its coasts in the East China Sea, and on the 'Nansha Islands' (China's name for the Spratly Islands) in the South China Sea. The scientists were also unaware that Taiwan already occupied [[Itu Aba|one of the Spratly Islands]], while China did not occupy any (despite its territorial claims).<ref>"South China Sea Treacherous Shoals", [[Far Eastern Economic Review]], 13 August 1992: p14-17</ref> After performing surveys and patrols of the region, in April 1987 China selected [[Fiery Cross Reef]] as their preferred location for the observation post, because the unoccupied reef was large enough to install the required equipment and remote from other occupied islands.<ref name="koo9-154" />

[[Johnson South Reef]], part of the [[Union Banks]] sunken atoll, is located {{convert|150|km|sigfig=2}} east of Fiery Cross Reef. Johnson South Reef is close to [[Sin Cowe Island]] (also in the Union Banks) which was occupied by Vietnam, and within the 200-nautical-mile [[Economic Exclusion Zone]] of the Philippines – a high profile and highly disputed area.<ref name="Gazetteer">{{cite web | title = Digital Gazetteer of Spratly Islands | url = http://www.southchinasea.org/macand/gazetteer.htm | publisher = www.southchinasea.org | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070717152713/http://www.southchinasea.org/macand/gazetteer.htm | archive-date = 17 July 2007 | access-date = 8 February 2008 }}<br/>- Version dated 19 August 2011 is available at: {{cite web | title = Digital Gazetteer of Spratly Islands | url = http://www.southchinasea.org/2011/08/19/digital-gazetteer-of-the-spratly-islands/ | date = 19 August 2011 | publisher = www.southchinasea.org | access-date = 5 June 2014 | quote = This list includes the names of all Spratly features known to be occupied and/or above water at low tide. | archive-date = 7 June 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140607000526/http://www.southchinasea.org/2011/08/19/digital-gazetteer-of-the-spratly-islands/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In January and February 1988, Vietnamese forces began establishing a military presence on additional reefs, including Collins Reef and Lansdowne Reef in the Union Banks, to monitor the Chinese activity around Fiery Cross Reef.<ref name="koo9-154" /> This led to a series of confrontations.<ref name="koo9-154" />

== Incident ==
Accounts of the incident differ substantially between the participants, with both Vietnam and China claiming that the other side initiated combat.<ref name=":Wang">{{Cite book |last=Wang |first=Frances Yaping |title=The Art of State Persuasion: China's Strategic Use of Media in Interstate Disputes |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197757512 |doi=10.1093/oso/9780197757505.001.0001}}</ref>{{Rp|page=258}}

=== China's account===
According to China, on 13 March, the frigate ''Nanchong'' detected [[People's Army of Vietnam]] (PAVN) armed naval transport ''HQ-604'' heading toward [[Johnson South Reef]], transport ''HQ-605'' heading toward Lansdowne Reef, and landing craft [[USS Bulloch County|''HQ-505'']] heading toward [[Collins Reef]] in a simultaneous three-pronged intrusion upon the disputed reefs. They ignored the ''Nanchong'''s warnings for them to leave.<ref>{{cite web |date=2008-03-19 |title=1988.3.14：中越南沙群岛赤瓜礁海战战记(3) |url=http://news.ifeng.com/history/1/jishi/200903/0319_2663_1068627_2.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429013557/http://news.ifeng.com/history/1/jishi/200903/0319_2663_1068627_2.shtml |archive-date=2015-04-29 |access-date=2012-08-20 |website=[[Phoenix Television]] |publisher=}}</ref>

At approximately 07:30 on Johnson South Reef, Vietnamese troops attempted to erect the [[Flag of Vietnam|Vietnamese flag]] on the reef. It was reported that PAVN Corporal Nguyen Van Lanh and PAVN Sub Lieutenant Tran Van Phuong argued over the flag raising with [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] (PLAN) sailor Du Xianghou, which led to fighting between the opposing forces on the reef. In response, Vietnamese forces, with naval transport ''HQ-604'' in support, opened fire.<ref name=":">{{Cite web |title=陈伟文将军回忆南沙海战(2) |url=http://news.qq.com/a/20111222/000468_1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017114434/http://news.qq.com/a/20111222/000468_1.htm |archive-date=2019-10-17 |access-date=2018-11-28 |website=Modern Ships |language=zh}}</ref> PLAN forces and the frigate ''Nanchong'' counter-attacked at 08:47 hours. Transport ''HQ-604'' was set ablaze and sunk.<ref name=":"/>

At 09:15 hours, the frigate [[Chinese frigate Xiangtan (556)|''Xiangtan'']] arrived at Lansdowne Reef and found that nine Vietnamese marines from transport ''HQ-605'' had already landed. The frigate ''Xiangtan'' immediately hailed the Vietnamese and demanded they withdraw from the reef. Instead, the Vietnamese opened fire.<ref name=":i">{{cite web |date=2008-03-19 |title=1988.3.14：中越南沙群岛赤瓜礁海战战记(4) |url=http://news.ifeng.com/history/1/jishi/200903/0319_2663_1068627_3.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816154407/http://news.ifeng.com/history/1/jishi/200903/0319_2663_1068627_3.shtml |archive-date=2016-08-16 |access-date=2012-08-20 |website=[[Phoenix Television]] |publisher=}}</ref> ''HQ-605'' was damaged heavily and finally sunk by the Chinese.<ref name=":i"/>

=== Vietnam's account ===
According to Vietnam, in January 1988, [[China]] sent a group of ships from [[Hainan]] to the southern part of the [[South China Sea]]. This included four ships, including three frigates, dispatched to the north-west of the Spratly Islands. The four ships then began provoking and harassing the Vietnamese ships around [[Tizard Bank]] and the [[London Reefs]]. Vietnam believed this battle group intended to create a reason to "occupy the Spratly Islands in a preventive counterstrike".<ref name="info">{{cite web|url=http://infonet.vn/mot-phan-truong-sa-cua-viet-nam-bi-trung-quoc-chiem-nhu-the-nao-bai-8-post28394.info|title=Một phần Trường Sa của Việt Nam bị Trung Quốc chiếm như thế nào? (bài 8) (How China took a part of Vietnam's Spratly Islands)|author=Hồng Chuyên|website=infornet|publisher=Infornews|access-date=19 March 2014|archive-date=20 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320215540/http://infonet.vn/mot-phan-truong-sa-cua-viet-nam-bi-trung-quoc-chiem-nhu-the-nao-bai-8-post28394.info|url-status=live}}</ref>

In response, two transport ships from the Vietnamese Navy's 125th Naval Transport Brigade, ''HQ-604'' and ''HQ-505'', were mobilized. They carried nearly 100 army officers and men to [[Johnson South Reef]] (Đá Gạc Ma), [[Collins Reef]] (Đá Cô Lin), and Lansdowne Reef (Đá Len Đao) in the Spratly Islands.<ref name="tuoitre"/> On 14 March 1988, as the soldiers from ''HQ-604'' were moving construction materials to [[Johnson South Reef]], the four Chinese ships arrived.<ref name="tuoitre"/> The three Chinese frigates approached the reef:
* ''Nanchong'' (502) ([[Type 053 frigate#Versions|Jiangnan class / Type 065]]). Displaces 1,400 tons, equipped with three 100&nbsp;mm guns and eight 37&nbsp;mm [[Anti-aircraft warfare|AA guns]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/plan/jiangnan.htm |title=Jiangnan – People's Liberation Army Navy |work=fas.org |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=14 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914052511/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/plan/jiangnan.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Chinese frigate Xiangtan (556)|''Xiangtan'' (556)]] ([[Type 053 frigate#Versions|Jianghu-II class / Type 053H1]]). Displaces 1,925 tons, equipped with four 100&nbsp;mm guns and two 37&nbsp;mm AA guns.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/plan/jianghu.htm |title=Jianghu-class frigates – People's Liberation Army Navy |work=fas.org |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=14 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914070726/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/plan/jianghu.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Chinese frigate Yingtan (531)|''Yingtan'' (531)]] ([[Type 053 frigate#Type 053K air-defence frigate|Jiangdong class / Type 053K]]). Displaces 1,925 tons, equipped with four 100&nbsp;mm guns and eight 37&nbsp;mm AA guns.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/plan/jiangdong.htm |title=Jiangdong-class Frigate – People's Liberation Army Navy |work=fas.org |access-date=31 July 2016 |archive-date=14 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914034327/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/plan/jiangdong.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Commander Tran Duc Thong ordered Second Lieutenant Tran Van Phuong and two men, Nguyen Van Tu and Nguyen Van Lanh, to rush to the reef in a small boat and protect the Vietnamese flag that had been planted there the previous day.<ref name="tuoitre"/> The Chinese landed armed soldiers on the reef, and the PLAN frigates opened fire on the Vietnamese ships. Both the ''HQ-604'' and ''HQ-605'' transport ships were sunk.<ref name="tuoitre"/> The ''HQ-505'' transport ship was ordered to run aground on Collins reef to prevent the Chinese from taking it.<ref name="tuoitre"/>

Vietnamese soldiers, most of them unarmed,<ref name="TN201304"/><ref name="TN20160314">{{cite web |url=http://www.thanhniennews.com/politics/vietnamese-soldiers-remember-1988-spratlys-battle-against-chinese-60161.html |title=Vietnamese soldiers remember 1988 Spratlys battle against Chinese |author=Mai Thanh Hai – Vu Ngoc Khanh |date=14 March 2016 |website=thanhniennews.com |publisher=Thanh Nien News |access-date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=17 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317225457/http://www.thanhniennews.com/politics/vietnamese-soldiers-remember-1988-spratlys-battle-against-chinese-60161.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> formed a circle on the reef to protect the Vietnamese flag. The Chinese attacked, and the Vietnamese soldiers resisted as best they could.<ref name="tuoitre"/> A skirmish ensued in which the Chinese shot and [[bayonet]]ed some Vietnamese soldiers to death, but the Chinese were unable to capture the flag.<ref name="tuoitre">{{cite web |url=http://tuoitre.vn/Chinh-tri-Xa-hoi/Phong-su-Ky-su/537171/%C2%A0-vong-tron-bat-tu-tren-bai-gac-ma.html |title="Vòng tròn bất tử" trên bãi Gạc Ma (''The immortal circle in the Johnson South Reef'') |author=QUỐC VIỆT |date=14 March 1988 |publisher=Tuổi Trẻ |access-date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=20 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320070817/http://tuoitre.vn/Chinh-tri-Xa-hoi/Phong-su-Ky-su/537171/%C2%A0-vong-tron-bat-tu-tren-bai-gac-ma.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Chinese finally retreated enabling PLAN frigates to open fire on the reef's defenders. When all of the Vietnamese had been killed or wounded, the Chinese occupied the reef and began building a bunker. 64 Vietnamese soldiers had been killed in the battle according to Vietnamese reports.<ref name="info"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.congan.com.vn/?mod=detnews&catid=942&id=513845 |title=Tưởng niệm 64 anh hùng liệt sĩ hy sinh bảo vệ đảo Gạc Ma ngày 14-3-1988 (''Honoring 64 martyrs who died for protecting the Johnson South Reef in 14-03-1988'') |author=H.QUÂN – V.TÌNH – X.HOÀI |date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Vietbao |access-date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=20 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320070951/http://www.congan.com.vn/?mod=detnews&catid=942&id=513845 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Vietnam also accused China of refusing to allow Vietnam's [[Red Cross]] ship to recover bodies and rescue wounded soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://vietbao.vn/Chinh-Tri/Tranh-chap-Truong-Sa-Hoang-Sa-Giai-quyet-cach-nao/20762796/96/ |title= Tranh chấp Trường Sa – Hoàng Sa: Giải quyết cách nào? (''Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands dispute: How to resolve?'') |author= Từ Đặng Minh Thu |date= 7 January 2008 |website= Công an Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh |publisher= Công an Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh Magazine |access-date= 19 March 2014 |archive-date= 20 March 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140320082735/http://vietbao.vn/Chinh-Tri/Tranh-chap-Truong-Sa-Hoang-Sa-Giai-quyet-cach-nao/20762796/96/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

The [[Soviet Union]] at the time did not want to help Vietnam as its relationship with China was improving, although at the time the Soviet navy was stationed in [[Cam Ranh Bay]] and the Soviets had a mutual defense treaty with Hanoi. The Soviet Union even refused Vietnam's proposal to send a water tanker for supplies.<ref name=":Wang" />{{Rp|page=94}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1894249.stm|title=Russia to stress Vietnam ties|date=2002-03-26|access-date=2008-01-04|last=Arthurs|first=Clare | work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/di-nguyen-cuoi-cung-ve-nhung-liet-si-gac-ma-cua-dai-tuong-le-duc-anh-20220919014243741.htm | title=Di nguyện cuối cùng về những liệt sĩ Gạc Ma của Đại tướng Lê Đức Anh | date=19 September 2022 }}</ref>

=== Independent assessments ===
Cheng Tun-jen and Tien Hung-mao, two American professors, summarized the skirmish as follows: in late 1987, the PRC started deploying troops to some of the unoccupied reefs of the Spratly Islands. Soon after the PLA stormed the Johnson South Reef on 14 March 1988, a skirmish began between Vietnamese troops and PRC landing parties. Within a year, the PLA occupied and took over seven reefs and rocks in the Spratly Islands.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Cheng, Tun-jen |author2=Tien, Hung-mao |title=The Security environment in the Asia-Pacific |publisher=M.E. Sharpe |location=Armonk, N.Y |year=2000 |isbn=0-7656-0539-2 |page=264}}</ref>

Koo Min Gyo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, reported the battle's course was as follows: On 31 January 1988, two Vietnamese [[armed merchantman|armed cargo ships]] approached the Fiery Cross Reef to get construction material to build structures signifying Vietnam's claim over the reef.<ref name=koo9-154/> However, the PLAN intercepted the ships and forced them away from the reef.<ref name=koo9-154/> On 17 February, a group of Chinese ships (a PLAN destroyer, escort, and transport ships) and several Vietnamese ships (a [[minesweeper]] and armed freighter) all attempted to land troops at [[Cuarteron Reef]]. Eventually the outgunned Vietnamese ships were forced to withdraw.<ref name=koo9-154/> On 13 and 14 March, a PLAN artillery frigate was surveying the Johnson Reef when it spotted three Vietnamese ships approaching its location.<ref name=koo9-154/> Both sides dispatched troops to occupy Johnson Reef.<ref name=koo9-154/> After shots were fired by ground forces on the reef, the Chinese and Vietnamese ships opened fire on each other.<ref name=koo9-154/>

==Aftermath==
China moved quickly to consolidate its presence and by the end of 1988, it had occupied six reefs and atolls in the Spratly Islands.<ref name=koo9-154/>

On 2 September 1991, China released the nine Vietnamese prisoners taken during the Johnson South Reef skirmish.<ref name="TN201304">{{cite web |title=Deadly fight against Chinese for Gac Ma Reef remembered |url=http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/deadly-fight-against-chinese-for-gac-ma-reef-remembered-3235.html |publisher=Thanh Nien News |date=14 March 2013 |access-date=6 May 2016 |archive-date=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326150509/http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/deadly-fight-against-chinese-for-gac-ma-reef-remembered-3235.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1994, China had a similar confrontation by asserting its ownership of [[Mischief Reef]], which was inside the claimed [[exclusive economic zone]] of the [[Philippines]]. However, the Philippines only made a political protest, since according to the [[Henry L. Stimson Center]], the [[Philippine Navy]] decided to avoid direct confrontation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cronin |first=Richard P. |date=4 February 2010 |title=China's Activities in Southeast Asia and the Implications for U.S. Interests |url=http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2010hearings/written_testimonies/10_02_04_wrt/10_02_04_cronin_statement.pdf |publisher=U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission |access-date=15 April 2010 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304115159/http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2010hearings/written_testimonies/10_02_04_wrt/10_02_04_cronin_statement.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="The Diplomat" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mark |first1=Mark |title=The Impact of the Johnson South Reef Skirmish on the South China Sea Conflict |date=4 August 2016 |pages=2}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Battle of the Paracel Islands]]
* [[Naval history of China]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070203095105/http://community.middlebury.edu/~scs/terms.html The South China Sea Online Resource]
* Kelly, Todd C. (Fall 1999). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130402164512/http://www.hawaii.edu/cseas/pubs/explore/todd.html "Vietnamese Claims to the Truong Sa Archipelago"]. ''Explorations in Southeast Asian Studies''. Vol. 3.

{{PRC conflicts}}
{{Spratly Islands topics}}
{{South China Sea}}

[[Category:1988 in China]]
[[Category:1988 in Vietnam]]
[[Category:20th-century naval battles]]
[[Category:Battles and operations of the Third Indochina War]]
[[Category:Battles in 1988]]
[[Category:China–Vietnam military relations]]
[[Category:Cold War military history of China]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1988]]
[[Category:History of the Spratly Islands]]
[[Category:Incidents in the South China Sea]]
[[Category:March 1988 in China]]
[[Category:Military history of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving China]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving Vietnam]]
[[Category:People's Liberation Army Navy]]