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Petition to National Geographic: Removal of the label “China” at the Paracel Island Feed
Mr. Chris Jones, Editor in Chief The National Geographic Society 1145 17th St, NW Washington, DC 20036-4688 nationalgeographic.com/magazine
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March 10, 2010
Ref: The petition for removal of the label “China” at the Paracel Islands on NGS’s online world map
Dear Mr. Jones:
We are writing this letter concerning the label “China” at the disputed Paracel Islands on the online world map edition published by the National Geographic Society. (*)
The fact is that the islands located in the South China Sea have never been recognized as part of Chinese territory by the international community.
In this letter, we do not have any ambition to convince you the Paracel Islands belong to a specific country. Instead, we are requesting you to review the current status of the islands based on reliable, third-party source for correctly labeling the islands on your map.
The sovereignty disputes over the islands remain unresolved for nearly a century. Over the years, the United Nations have also received many complaints from Vietnam and China regarding these features. In fact, the latest submissions to the United Nations from these countries happened in May 2009. The United Nations have classified the Paracel Islands as “the disputed islands” and have never confirmed them belong to neither country.
It is no doubt that the National Geographic Society is a trusted and reliable source of important information for many people around the globe, including researchers and young students.
Therefore, in preventing the public from being misled, we call upon you to immediately review and change the label based on the true status of the Paracel Islands to reflect both the point of view of the international community as well as the neutral point of view policy of the National Geographic Society. Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Your name
(*) Link to the said online world map by National Geographic Society http://www.natgeomaps.com/world_decorator_zoomify.html?zoomifyImagePath=assets/files/zoomify/re00622077/re00622077_1_img&zoomifyNavigatorVisible=false
USEFUL INFORMATION
1. The International Court of Justice of the United Nations has recorded the Paracel Islands as the disputed islands between Vietnam and China. http://www.munfw.org/archive/45th/icj.htm
2. On May 6, 2009, Vietnam and Malaysia formally filed a joint submission with the United Nations’ Commissions on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to claim their territorial sea, including the Paracel Islands. http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/Perspective/RSIS0652009.pdf
3. On 6 August, 1998, at the request of the Government of Viet Nam, the protest was circulated to all States Members of the United Nations. http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/Perspective/RSIS0652009.pdf
China makes Vietnamese fishermen hold explosives to falsely accuse them
Written by Le Duc
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:22
15 December 2009
On the 7 and 8 of December 2009, three fishing
boats along with 43 fishermen from Ly
Son island, Quang Ngai province were seized while fishing on the sea
surrounding the Paracel Islands that China seized from Vietnam in 1974.
On 11 December
2009, all the fishermen were released and arrived back on Ly Son Island.
However, two of the boats along with all their instruments and other properties
worth 2 billion dong are still kept by the Chinese on Woody Island.
Although the
fishermen have returned to their families, they are still extremely
traumatized by what happened to them.
Through partnership with Saab AB
both Brasil and India will be exporters of the combat aircraft like
Sweden by 2020. Saab also has entered into a partnership with Thailand
company Avia Satcom Co. Ltd., to form a joint venture for developing
high technology products within aviation and defence. This is a great
model for Vietnam to adapt for high-tech economic development, and
advance its aerospace industry. Saab Gripen NG is comparable to the the
JSF F-35 (available in 2012 and expected to be in service until 2040).
However, the F-35 will be the last manned combat aircraft that the
United States will develop/purchase, as unmanned aircraft system (UAS)
will dominate the future of military and civil aviation.
Maritime Boundaries and the Spratlys: China causes concern
Written by Le Duc
Friday, 03 July 2009 00:46
By Du Tran
Opinion Asia 29 Jun 2009
The South China Sea dispute involves six states: the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam and China.
On
7th May 2009, Malaysia and Vietnam made a joint submission relating to
an area in the South of the South China Sea. On 8th May 2009, Vietnam
made a submission on its own relating to an area near the centre of the
South China Sea.
Previously, Vietnam had invited Brunei to make
a joint submission with Malaysia and Vietnam relating to the area in
the South of the South China Sea, and Brunei had accepted. In the
event, Brunei has not made any submission. On the other hand, she has
not protested Malaysia and Vietnam’s joint submission The
Philippines has not made a submission for any area in the South China
Sea. According to the Philippines, the reason for not making such a
submission is to avoid creating new conflicts or exacerbating existing
ones. The Philippines has not protested either Vietnam’s own submission
or Malaysia and Vietnam’s joint submission.
China's fishing ban and oil drilling project must stop!
Written by Le Duc
Thursday, 18 June 2009 00:34
By Tony Le 18 June 2009
With the excuse of preserving marine life, China instituted a ban on commercial fishing in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands between May and August. Now China announces that it will drill oil wells in the area next year, this time obviously not for environmental reasons.
The area banned from fishing included areas that belonged to Vietnam's jurisdiction in which China had no right to enact any measures. However, making use of its economic and military might, China decided to bully its neighboring countries and their fishermen into docking their boats in the middle of the high fishing season. Families are forced to go without an income for their livelihood while China enjoys the feeling of might and power as it bullies its neighbors into submission.
