Paracels.

This is coolbert:

From 1974 - - the Battle of the Paracel Islands.

Those specks of rock in the South China Sea contested by the Chinese and Vietnamese both. Occupied since 1974 by the Chinese - - sovereignty issues at that time settled by the use of force!

Naval forces of the South Vietnamese military [Saigon] and Chinese in a short and violent conflict over the disputed and highly prized [?] islets, rocks, outcrops, reefs of the Spratly Islands. This particular group of islands referred to as the Paracels. This particular military "clash" a  LOSS for the Vietnamese, a VICTORY for the Chinese.

"Battle of the Paracel Islands".

"The Battle of the Paracel Islands was an engagement fought between the naval forces of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in the Paracel Islands on January 19, 1974"

"The tiny, uninhabited Paracel Islands, called Quan Dao Hoang Sa . . . in Vietnamese (Hoang Sa Islands) and Xisha Qundao . . . in Chinese . . . lie in the South China Sea roughly 200 miles from the nearest Asian mainland shore. With no native population, the archipelago's ownership has been in dispute frequently since the early 20th century."

These are guano islands. Called the Crescent Group by international navigators and also known by names such as: Pattle Island, Robert Island, Duncan Island!

Under the Guano Islands Act of 1856 of American interests could at one time have laid claim to the Paracels but that only applies to those islands NOT claimed by others! EVERYBODY WANTS THE SPRATLY ISLANDS, THE PARACELS INCLUDED!!

When it comes to land claims, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, even for "itty-bitty" specks of rock visible above the water line only during periods of low time - - "emotion clouds reason" and all logical thought is in vain!

coolbert.