China issues postage stamp featuring images of the Spratly Islands.

China Post has just released a set of five postage stamps titled "China Lighthouse," featuring images that violate Vietnam's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands.

A panoramic view of the main facade of Truong Sa Island as seen from the pier. (Illustrative image)

On the morning of November 2, 2016, the Vietstamp Club sent official letter No. 294 to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Post Corporation, and the Vietnam Philatelic Association, petitioning regarding Chinese postage stamps that violate Vietnam's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands.

The official document states: On October 28, 2016, China Post issued a set of five postage stamps titled "China Lighthouses," depicting five lighthouses illegally constructed by China on five reefs within Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands (which have been illegally occupied by China since 1988 and 1995).

The specific stamp designs include: Stamp 5-1, face value 1.2 yuan: Depicting a lighthouse illegally constructed by China on Cuarteron Reef (international name: Cuarteron Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called: Huayang Jiao).

Stamp design 5-2, face value 1.2 yuan: Depicts a lighthouse illegally constructed by China on Gạc Ma Reef (International name: Johnson South Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called: Chigua Jiao).

Stamp design 5-3, face value 1.2 yuan: Depicts a lighthouse illegally constructed by China on Subi Reef (International name: Subi Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called: Zhubi Dao).

Stamp design 5-4, face value 1.5 yuan: Depicts a lighthouse illegally constructed by China on Fiery Cross Reef (international name: Fiery Cross Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1988 and called Yongshu Jiao).

Stamp design 5-5, face value 1.5 yuan: Depicts a lighthouse illegally constructed by China on Mischief Reef (international name: Mischief Reef, illegally occupied by China since 1995 and called: Meiji Jiao).

“This action by China Post violates international law and seriously infringes upon Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Spratly Islands. China Post has used the pretext of issuing postage stamps about lighthouses to widely propagate its so-called ‘sovereignty’ over the reefs in Vietnam’s Spratly Islands that China has illegally occupied, aiming to deceive domestic and international public opinion about its illegal actions,” emphasized Mr. Hoang Anh Thi, Chairman of the Vietstamp Club.

This is the third time China Post has issued postage stamps that violate Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Previously, in 2004, they issued a set of stamps titled "Chinese Border Scenery," which included a stamp depicting Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago, which they called "Xisha Islands." And in 2013, they issued a set of general postage stamps titled "Beautiful China," which included a stamp depicting a group of islands within Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago, which they called "Sansha Qilian Yu."

Immediately after China Post issued a stamp in 2013 that violated Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, the Vietnam Post Agency protested this wrongful act by China Post and demanded that China Post respect the truth, immediately cancel the stamp, envelope, and postcard depicting the islands of Vietnam's Paracel Islands, and prevent similar actions from recurring, thereby contributing to building relations between the two postal services in particular and between Vietnam and China in general.

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

Furthermore, in response to the wishes of numerous Vietnamese stamp collectors both domestically and internationally, the Viet Stamp Club proposes that the Ministry of Information and Communications consider and decide to issue a set of general stamps depicting the map of Vietnam with the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos. This aims to contribute to promoting and educating the public about patriotism and love for the sea and islands, and to affirm Vietnam's sovereignty over its maritime territories to the world through postage stamps.

According to Infonet