China issues stamps with images of Spratly Islands

China Post has just issued a set of five postage stamps named "China Lighthouse" with images violating Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago.

Panoramic view of the main facade of Truong Sa island seen from the wharf. (Illustration photo)

On the morning of November 2, 2016, Vietstamp Club sent Official Letter No. 294 to the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Post Corporation, and Vietnam Stamp Association to petition about Chinese postage stamps violating Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago.

The document stated: On October 28, 2016, China Post issued a set of postage stamps consisting of 5 stamps named "China Lighthouse" (Chinese Lighthouse) showing images of 5 lighthouses illegally built by China on 5 reefs in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago (illegally occupied by China since 1988 and 1995).

Specific stamp designs include: Stamp 5-1, face value 1.2 yuan: Shows the image of the lighthouse project illegally built by China on Cuarteron Reef (International name: Cuarteron Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called: Huayang Jiao).

Stamp model 5-2, face value 1.2 yuan: Shows the image of a lighthouse illegally built by China on Gac Ma Reef (International name: Johnson South Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called: Chigua Jiao).

Stamp 5-3, face value 1.2 yuan: Shows an image of a lighthouse construction illegally built by China on Subi Reef (International name: Subi Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called: Zhubi Dao).

Stamp model 5-4, face value 1.5 yuan: Shows the image of a lighthouse project illegally built by China on Fiery Cross Reef (International name: Fiery Cross Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called: Yongshu Jiao).

Stamp model 5-5, face value 1.5 yuan: Shows the image of a lighthouse illegally built by China on Mischief Reef (International name: Mischief Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1995 and called: Meiji Jiao).

“This action by the Chinese Postal Service has violated international law and seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago. The Chinese Postal Service has used the pretext of issuing postage stamps about lighthouses to widely promote the so-called “sovereignty of China” over the reefs in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago that have been illegally occupied by China, in order to deceive public opinion at home and abroad about its illegal actions,” emphasized Mr. Hoang Anh Thi, Chairman of the Vietstamp Club.

This is the third time that the Chinese Postal Service has issued postage stamps that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Previously, in 2004, they issued a stamp set called “Chinese Border Scenery”, which included a stamp showing the image of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, which they called “Xisha Islands”. And in 2013, they issued a popular stamp set called “Beautiful China”, which included a stamp showing an island group in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, which they called “Sansha That Lien Du”.

Immediately after the Chinese Post Office issued a stamp violating Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago in 2013, the Vietnam Post Office protested against this wrongful action by the Chinese Post Office and requested the Chinese Post Office to respect the truth, immediately cancel the stamps, envelopes and postcards printed with images of the islands in Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago, and not let similar actions recur, contributing to building the relationship between the two postal sectors in particular and between Vietnam and China in general.

In Official Dispatch No. 294, Viet Stamp Club requested the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Post Corporation and Vietnam Stamp Association to consider and officially express strong opposition to China Post and China Stamp Association for their actions in issuing and circulating postage stamps that seriously violate Vietnam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago.

In addition, in response to the wishes of many Vietnamese stamp collectors at home and abroad, the Viet Stamp Club proposed that the Ministry of Information and Communications consider and decide to issue a set of common stamps depicting the image of the map of Vietnam with the two archipelagos of Truong Sa and Hoang Sa to contribute to propagating and educating patriotism and love for the sea and islands to the general public; affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the sea and islands to the world through postage stamps.

According to Infonet