ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE SEA AND ISLANDS IN QUANG NAM UNDER THE NGUYEN DYNASTY (1602 - 1775)

Abstract

The exercise of sovereignty rights over the sea and islands is always a vital issue for every nation that borders the sea. As for Vietnam, a country which stretches along a coastline of more than 3260 km with a series of offshore islands and archipelagos, the establishment and enforcement of its sovereignty has always been a top priority of the governments throughout historical periods. The process of establishing and implementing activities to protect sea and island sovereignty in the South Central Coast of Viet Nam (i.e. the Quang Nam sea area) in the monarchy period was undertaken earliest under the Nguyen dynasty via a range of activities in economic exploitation, control of arrival and departure of ships, rescue and resistance to foreign invaders. Through these activities of the Nguyen government and the people of Cochinchina, Vietnam's sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands was established during the Nguyen dynasty (1602 - 1775).