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Chinese Navy Massacres 64 Vietnamese Sailors In Island Dispute
Published 2 years ago
Footage from the March 14, 1988 Johnson South Reef Skirmish shows the Chinese navy opening fire on Vietnamese forces, resulting in the deaths of 64 Vietnamese sailors, 11 wounded, and three Vietnamese ships sunk.
The incident occurred as China attempted to invade and annex the Johnson South Reef of the Spratly Islands, which was sovereign Vietnamese territory. Vietnam responded by deploying dozens of sailors across the reef in waist deep water with their nation's flag planted.
China sent landing craft and marines in an attempt to remove the flags and dispel the Vietnamese sailors. However, the sailors stood their ground and the Chinese marines returned to their ships, and that is when the massacre began.
The Chinese navy unleashed deck-mounted 37mm anti aircraft guns at the dismounted Vietnamese sailors with devastating accuracy and fired at the troop transport and landing craft with larger naval guns, resulting in the destruction and sinking of multiple Vietnamese vessels.
As a result of the brutal massacre China successfully took control of the Johnson South Reef.
