Johnson South Reef Skirmish

Part of the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979–90 and Spratly Islands dispute

Map of the Union Banks, where the battle occurred

Date	14 March 1988
Location	Johnson South Reef
Result	Chinese victory

Belligerents

China

Vietnam

Commanders and leaders

Chen Weiwen(陈伟文)

Deputy Brigadier Tran Duc Thong;

Le Lenh Son, CO HQ-605;

Vu Phi Tru †, CO HQ-604;

Vu Huy Le, CO HQ-505

Units involved

502 Nanchong 南充 (Jiangnan Class/065) frigate;
556 Xiangtan 湘潭 (Jianghu II Class/053H1) frigate;
531 Yingtan 鹰潭 (Jiangdong Class/053K) frigate

HQ-505 (ex Quy Nhon HQ-504) landing craft;
HQ-604 armed transporter;
HQ-605 armed transporter

Casualties and losses

1 wounded

64 killed
11 wounded
9 captured (released in 1991)

2 armed transporters sunk
1 landing craft destroyed

64 killed
11 wounded
9 captured (released in 1991)

The Johnson South Reef Skirmish of 1988 (Chinese: 赤瓜礁海战; pinyin: Chìguā jiāo hǎizhàn; literally: "Naval Battle of Chigua Reef"; Vietnamese: Hải chiến Trường Sa, lit: "Spratly Islands naval battle", or Vietnamese: Hải chiến Gạc Ma, lit: "Johnson South Reef naval battle") was a naval battle that took place between Chinese and Vietnamese forces over Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Islands on 14 March 1988.

During the 14th UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), it was agreed upon that China would establish five observation posts, including one at the Spratly Islands, for worldwide ocean survey. In March 1987, the UNESCO IOC commissioned China to build the observation post at the Spratly Islands. During the meeting of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO in Paris, the Delegate of the People's Republic of China, speaking highly of GLOSS (Global Sea Level Observing System), noted what the PRC considered a few mistakes in the text of Document IOC/INF-663 rev.; for instance, "Taiwan" is listed as a "country" in relevant Tables contained in the Document (Taiwan's official title is in fact the "Republic of China", though within Taiwan and internationally the nation is commonly referred to as "Taiwan, Republic of China", or simply "Taiwan"). The scientists from the GLOSS, who did not know that the PRC claims Taiwan is not a "country" or about the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, agreed that China will install few tide gauges on "its coasts" in the East China Sea and on its "Nansha islands" in the South China Sea. Scientists of this era did not know that Taiwan had an island in the Spratly but China (PRC) had none in spite of its claims. In April 1987, after numerous surveys and patrols, China chose the Fiery Cross Reef as the ideal location for the observation post because the unoccupied reef was remote from other claims and it was large enough for the observation post. On the other hand, Johnson South Reef, 150 km East of Fiery Cross Reef, is inside Philippines claimed 200 NM EEZ and close to Sin Cowe Island inhabited by the Vietnamese in Union Banks sunken atoll; clearly a disputed area. Between January and February, Vietnamese forces began establishing a presence at surrounding reefs to monitor the Chinese activity. That led to a series of confrontations.

...
Wikipedia