Hegemony in the South China Seas

This volume traces the South China Sea disputes through key 1970s-1980s naval clashes, illustrating historical events with maps and period artwork to illuminate regional power dynamics. The battle of 1974 was fought between the crumbling regime of the Republic of Vietnam, better known as South Vietnam, in the last vestiges of the Vietnam War. The battle resulted in a resounding Chinese victory, leaving bitter memories for many Vietnamese, especially those exiled to the West after the collapse of South Vietnam. This battle was significant because it was the first naval battle of Mao's China. The second naval skirmish, this time between the socialist brothers of Vietnam and China, occurred in 1979. This skirmish saw three Vietnamese armed vessels captured and secured China's hegemony in the Xisha/Paracel Islands area. A third clash occurred in 1988 and resulted in another Chinese victory that soured the relationship between the two socialist nations for many years. Although these battles resulted in victory for the Chinese, they did not bring peace, and the disputes of the South China Sea continue to ferment in modern-day headline news. This book serves as a primer on the current tensions over the South China Seas, describing the history of the dispute, and provides a timeline of events to aid readers' understanding of current events, and their impact upon modern-day power politics, especially those between China and the USA. Hegemony in the South China Seas: Sino-Vietnam Sea Battles, 1974-1988 is extensively illustrated with original photographs, maps and the @War series' signature colour artworks, providing an essential guide for the enthusiast and professional reader alike.