What is the history of the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands over the last 200 years?

Question

These two groups of small islands are located in the South China Sea. It doesn't appear that any of these islands are capable of supporting human habitation, however their ownership is currently disputed by many countries, including China, Vietnam, Philippines, etc.

What is the history of these island groups over the past 200 years? Most accounts which I have seen on the internet only talk about the current ownership disputes, and don't go into the history in depth.

Some sources say that these island groups were occupied by the Japanese during WWII. However, the situation before that Japanese occupation is much less clear. In particular, I would be interested in the history of the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands over the last 200 years or more.

Answer 1

= = = = = Spratlys = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

CIA World Factbook -- Spratly Islands
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pg.html

Some history of the Spratly Islands (up through 1997) is given below, as excerpted from http://www.american.edu/projects/mandala/TED/ice/spratly.htm
* 1930s
France first occupied various Spratly islands.
* 1934-1944
During WWII, Japan displaced the French and occupied the Spratly Islands, using the islands as a submarine base. After the war, neither the French nor the Japanese returned to the islands.
* 1946
Kuomintang forces took possession of the Itu Aba island -- the largest Spratly island.
* 1968
The Philippines take control of 3 islands.
* 1973
South Vietnam possessed 5 islands in the Spratlys
* 1974
China disregards territorial claims by South Vietnam, and occupies the Paracel Islands lying north of the Spratly Islands. U.S. and South Vietnam naval forces clash over island ownership.
* 1978
The Philippines extend an official claim to islands east of the Spratlys, naming them the Freedom Islands. China removes 6 Spratly atolls from Vietnam's possession.
* 1979
Malaysia claims its first Spratly island, indicating that the island is part of Malaysia's continental shelf.
* 1988
China and Vietnam become military engaged over Johnson Reef. China retains occupation of the reef. By April, Vietnam expands claims to include 15 additional reefs. China occupies 6 isles.
* 1989
International outrage at the Tiananmen Square incident in China calmed China's aggression in the South China Sea, in an attempt to further avoid infuriating international opinion.
* 1992
The Manila declaration was drafted and claimats agreed to peaceful resolution of the disputes.
* 1992
On 25 February 1992, China passed the "Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zones" Law, laying claim to all Spratly islands, as well as several other archipelagos.
* 1992
In May, China National Offshore Oil Corp. signed a joint exploration contract with Crestone Energy Corp. for the 25,1255 sq km Wan'an Bei-21 block in the Spratly Islands.(28) Exploration is set to begin in 1994. Vietnam vehemently opposes this contract.
* 1992
In July, China occupied Da Lac Reef, serving as its first military presence since the 1988 clash with Vietnam.
* 1992
In September, China drills on the Vietnamese side of the Gulf of Tonkin median line, violating the 1972 agreement not to drill in disputed waters.
* 1994
In November, Exxon concludes a US$35 billions gas field exploration deal in the area north of Natuna Island, a region partly claimed by China. Vietnam signs an exploration deal with Mobil in Vietnam's EEZ, but in waters also claimed by China.
* 1995
In February, China occupied the Philippine-claimed Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands.
* 1995
In March, the Philippine forces seize Chinese fishing boats and destroy Chinese markers on Mischief Reef.
* 1996
Vietnam's PetroVietnam signed a deal with the U.S.-based Conoco oil company to explore waters 400 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh CIty.
* 1997
In March, China allegedly began operating the Kan Tan III oil rig in an area north of the Spratly Islands, but within Vietnam's EEZ.

Also see discussion of colonization, competing claims by different countries, and a 20th century timeline at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spratly_islands

Also see Spratly Islands Dispute at http://www.american.edu/TED/SPRATLY.htm

More historical data is given on the page at http://geography.about.com/library/misc/ucspratlys.htm

PRC viewpoints are as follows:
(1) A Spratly Islands History Timeline is given on http://www.spratlys.org/his/spratly-islands-history-timeline.htm
(2) PRC's Jurisprudential Evidence To Support China's Sovereignty over the Nansha Islands is at http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/topics/3754/t19234.htm

= = = = = Paracels = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

CIA World Factbook -- Paracel Islands
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pf.html

See the discussion of history at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracel_islands

and at http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Paracel_Islands

= = = = = Combined data = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Territorial claims in the Spratly and Paracel Islands are discussed at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/spratly-claims.htm

Answer 2

The issue of the Paracel and Spratly Islands is a three letter word - OIL. There had been speculation that huge reserves of oil could be found under those islands. They would be uninhabitable worthless pieces of dirt if it wasn't for that.

Of course everyone is going to make claim to the islands now that they think there's oil. Look at the Middle East...

Answer 3

Spratly and Paracel islands are disputed by making use of various international places, China, Vietnam, Philippines, etc. i think of those international places ought to fulfill at negotiating tables and agree on non violent demarcation of the territory.

Answer 4

Okay here it goes a country(I forgot which one) gave it to the Philippines as a gift when they realized that there was oil.A lot of countries suddenly fought over it.They stopped it for a while because so many people died.I think.Dont get mad at me if I am wrong because i think this is what happend......