China wants Spratly, says Hanoi

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 9

China wants Spratly, says Hanoi

NZPA-Reuter Bangkok Vietnam has said that China is moving to occupy the Spratly Islands and Western diplomats said any Chinese thrust, into that area of the South China Sea would put Moscow in a tough spot. A Hanoi radio report said Peking provoked a Chinese-Vietnamese naval clash over the disputed islands on Monday as a prelude to seizing them. China “intends to pave the way for its use of

force on the seas in thej days ahead in order jo occupv Vietnam's] Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago." . the State radio said. “The Chinese side must) be held totally responsible I for all consequences aris-: ing from its military pro-] vocations of Vietnam.” I it i said. : Diplomats and [strategic analysts said they would be surprised if the dispute, escalated along the lines] predicted by Hanoi. "I can’t imagine Peking)

invading the Spratlys now. That would have to scare the Soviets and cause an international furor," said one diplomat. The • scattered islands are potentially rich in oil and strategically important for control of sea lanes. China and Vietnam fought a fierce battle over the islands in 1974. They are about 370 km from the Indo-Chinese mainland.