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Revelations that China quietly transferred control of an island in the South China Sea to Vietnam more than half a century ago could signal that Beijing is preparing to take a more aggressive stance on its territorial claims in the sea. Chinese semi-state-owned newspaper Huanqiu published an editorial March 27 titled "Expelling Vietnamese illegal shipping boats is justified" in defense of Vietnamese claims that a Chinese ship fired at Vietnamese fishing vessels near the disputed Paracel Islands. In a rare move, the article revealed a piece of history unknown to most of the public involving the transfer of Bach Long Vi Island (Bailongwei in Chinese) to Vietnam in early 1957. The article reasoned that, instead of returning the gesture of peace and friendship, Vietnam had increasingly challenged China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. The editorial was then reprinted in a number of major media outlets with the title "China transferred Bailongwei Island to Vietnam whereas Vietnam is stepping forward."
Not surprisingly, the articles sparked public outrage in China. Chinese citizens have condemned the government for conceding territory and have questioned the leadership's ability to safeguard the country's territory and national interest. The move was risky but it may fit Beijing's goal: To manufacture public outrage in order to add weight to Chinese moves in the South China Sea.
Located about halfway between Vietnam's Haiphong city and China's Hainan Island in the Gulf of Tonkin (Beibu Bay in Chinese), Bach Long Vi Island is 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) long and 1.5 kilometers wide, making it the largest habitable island in the South China Sea. Official records are scant, but unverified accounts suggest Chinese leadership transferred the island to the North Vietnamese government in March 1957 as part of its aid package during the Vietnam War. The island has been administered by Vietnam's Haiphong city and inhabited by Vietnamese citizens ever since.
Though China reportedly had considered reclaiming Bach Long Vi Island, it officially acknowledged Vietnam's sovereignty over it through a series of agreements as part of the border demarcation of the Gulf of Tonkin in the 2000s. The agreements also prohibit Chinese fishermen from approaching within 20 nautical miles of Bach Long Vi Island and granted 53.23 percent of the gulf's territory to Vietnam. (China was given control of the other 46.77 percent). Since then, there have been skirmishes over fishing but no major disputes.
Whether the settlements of Bach Long Vi Island and the Gulf of Tonkin were a result of strategic thinking or a lack of understanding of the island's importance, they have often been portrayed within Chinese policymaking circles as a shining example of Beijing's commitment to and flexibility in settling territorial disputes. China hoped to use that image to bring other neighbors to the negotiating table. The decision to now bring the resolution to light has stirred speculation that China could be reconsidering the agreement.
In publicizing the island transfer, Beijing is trying to portray itself as the responsible party while placing responsibility for the island disputes on Vietnam. Since Beijing shifted its focus to the maritime sphere, it has been increasingly evident that Hanoi will not back down from its claims on the Paracel and Spratly Islands or its desire to draw other countries into the disputes. Chinese policymakers have debated whether to be even more aggressive regarding their territorial claims as punishment or whether the previous relinquishment of territories is still useful for China's broader maritime interests. Therefore, now that Beijing is publicizing how its previous concessions were counterproductive, it could be that the country is trying to warn others to reach a peaceful settlement before it increases tensions or at least that Beijing may begin to reassess its territorial settlement with Vietnam.
Since tensions began to climb in the South China Sea in the late 2000s, China has not yet aggressively pushed Vietnam. Beijing has sent vessels to harass Vietnam fishing boats and to force Hanoi to cancel joint exploration deals with countries other than China along the nine-dash line, but it has not challenged Vietnam's control of islands or involved it in a severe confrontation. But now, in raising a fundamental fact of Chinese-Vietnamese relations -- the settlements of Bach Long Vi Island and the Gulf of Tonkin -- and perhaps suggesting that those settlements need to be reconsidered, China is warning Vietnam that a less accommodating Chinese stance may be imminent. At the same time, by inciting nationalist indignation, the Chinese government may be leaving itself with little room to de-escalate the dispute.
Courtesy : Stratfor (www.stratfor.com)