VietWill - Defending Vietnamese lives and borders in the South China Sea

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What's in a name?

Here is a question that we at VietWill blog are looking forward to getting the opinions of members and guests on. And that's how to identify the geographical region known throughout the world as: the South China Sea.

Vietnamese people refer to this sea as "Bien Dong" which literally translates as "Eastern Sea" because the sea is....east of Vietnam. But this name has not generally been used by the the world due to the obviously greater influence that China has on shaping world thinking.

In your opinion, how do you think we should identify what is known as the South China Sea in such a way that makes people understand what we are talking about at the same time promote our own views instead of the dominant Chinese view?

Do you think that we should retain the name that is generally accepted or introduce the name that comes from the Vietnamese perspective? Why?

Please join the discussion.

VietWill Blog Staff

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calgrad97

|04-06-2008 09:42:49

Let's call it "Bien Dong" like "pho", "ao dai" and "nuoc mam"

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nearlymissed

|04-06-2008 10:25:48

I am actually OK with both Bien Dong (aka, Eastern Sea) or South China Sea. As with any other nations, there are two names for everything a lot of time. One that one is familiar with by the locals, other known internationally. As long as it doesn't abuse the name calling and claims Southeast Asia as one country.

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china allergy

|04-06-2008 12:48:39

After lengthy go-no-where disputes, from now on, I think we have to be aggressive internationally in sovereignty wordings. Thus, how about "Vietnam's Eastern Sea" instead of "Eastern Sea of Vietnam." Save "Bi?n ?�ng" for articles later used in Vietnamese section of VietWill.

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china allergy

|04-06-2008 12:58:33

Just found VPSKEYS is not carried out correctly. If this has nothing to do with the users' computer setting then it needs to be updated or corrected since without stress the Vietnamese will lose its sharp edge of seriousness in issue addressing.

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Tony Le

|04-07-2008 06:34:31

I am a Vietnam loving patriotic person as much as the next guy, but my reflection on the name of the sea is this. Presently, it is identified by a Sino-centric name of South China Sea. To us, this is ridiculous because throughout our history, we've called it the Eastern Sea. Why should China be more honored than Vietnam?

Now, we want to counter it with Eastern Sea or some derivative of the name to indicate a Vietnam-centric point of view. But objectively speaking, is this really what we should do? So we get rid of the word China, and replace it with the word Vietnam. But does this solve the problem? I don't really think so. What about the other countries? They share a border on the sea as much as Vietnam. Why should Vietnam have more rights over the naming than the others (this has nothing to do with sovereignty over the islands, btw).

In the 7-2007 issue of Thoi Dai Moi journal, one author identified the sea as Bien Dong Nam A (Sea of Southeast Asia). I happen to agree with him. The sea is geographically located in SEA. Calling it as such neither interferes with Vietnam's rights over the islands nor diminishes Vietnam's posture in SEA.

On the other hand, if we insist on calling it the Eastern Sea or some derivative of that name, which is the other extreme of the South China Sea, we risk alienating our neighbors, stepping on their rights, and hinder collaboration in the struggle against China's aggression.

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china allergy

|04-07-2008 15:50:47

To the next patriotic guy,
Realistically speaking, this name calling discussion is just for the purpose of satisfying our own concern and pride and frustration over the water territory. Down to the bottom line, I do not think the rest of the claimants except Sino will care about whatsoever language it is called. Every country will just concern about potential oil reservoir down under, won't they? The point, I think, is not about the name of that "lawless" sea, the point is how fairly the cake of oil is going to be divided in the end. Thus, for the sake of proud historic sovereinty, the sea just needs to be named in our own way and I do not believe this would provoke any of the other claimants.

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