March 14, 1988: The Gạc Ma Incident and Vietnam's Struggle to Preserve Its Historical Memory

On this day in 1988, a bloody confrontation unfolded in the South China Sea as Chinese naval forces attacked Vietnamese troops stationed at Gạc Ma Reef (Johnson South Reef) in the Spratly Islands.

The skirmish resulted in the deaths of 64 Vietnamese soldiers and has since become a poignant symbol of Vietnam's enduring struggle to protect its sovereignty against foreign aggression. However, this event was conspicuously absent from Vietnamese history textbooks for many years, leading to collective amnesia among younger generations.

The Gạc Ma Incident: A Brief Overview

In early 1988, China intensified its efforts to assert control over the Spratly Islands, occupying several reefs and escalating regional tensions. In response, Vietnam dispatched naval forces to reinforce its claims and establish a presence on key reefs, including Gạc Ma.

On the morning of March 14, 1988, as Vietnamese soldiers were constructing defensive positions and planting their national flag on Gạc Ma Reef, Chinese warships approached and demanded their withdrawal.

The Vietnamese soldiers, primarily unarmed engineers, formed a protective circle around the flag, refusing to retreat. This act of defiance led to a violent assault by Chinese forces, resulting in the sinking of Vietnamese transport ships HQ-604 and HQ-605 and the loss of 64 Vietnamese lives.

Omission from Educational Materials and Public Consciousness

Despite its significance, the Gạc Ma Incident remained largely unaddressed in Vietnamese history textbooks for decades. This omission contributed to a widespread lack of awareness among younger generations about the event and its implications. Discussions about the incident were often limited, while public commemorations and protests were heavily suppressed.

On March 10, 2017, Vietnamese authorities forcibly disrupted a Gạc Ma commemoration ceremony in Vung Tau, the capital of Ba Rịa-Vung Tau Province. At the commencement of the event, approximately 50 plainclothes officers stormed the venue, destroyed and vandalized ceremonial flower wreaths, and detained three attendees. Witnesses reported being subjected to physical violence, unlawfully detained, and forced into signing questionable documents. 

This incident is just one of the many attempts of the state to suppress public remembrance of the battle, reflecting the government’s efforts to enforce selective memory among the populace and control historical discourse. 

Efforts to Reclaim the Historical Narrative

In the years following the tragic incident at Gạc Ma Reef, the Vietnamese government has actively restricted and censored information about the battle, likely to avoid straining relations with its largest trading partner. As part of these efforts, the incident has been omitted from school curriculums, and authorities have routinely dispersed individuals attempting to commemorate the event.

It was not until 2022 — 34 years after the battle—that the Vietnamese government appeared to have a change of heart. That year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh personally visited the Gạc Ma Memorial to pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the tragic incident. The Nhan Dan Daily, a Communist Party newspaper, also featured multiple front-page articles on the battle.

Despite this, doubts remain about the government's motivations. Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington, D.C., believes that Vietnam’s actions stem from its fear that Russia’s justification for its invasion of Ukraine could embolden China to escalate aggression in the South China Sea. Regardless of the underlying intent, Vietnam’s public acknowledgement of the Gạc Ma Incident remains an unprecedented and unexpected development.

In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to reintroduce the Gạc Ma Incident into Vietnam's collective consciousness. Scholars, veterans, and activists have pushed for the inclusion of this event in educational curricula to ensure that future generations understand the sacrifices made in defense of national sovereignty.

Public discussions and memorials have also become more prominent, reflecting the growing sentiment in Vietnam to acknowledge and remember this chapter of history.

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The Gạc Ma Incident stands as a testament to the bravery and resilience of Vietnamese soldiers in the face of foreign aggression. The attempts to keep the memory of the battle alive, despite government suppression, reflect the tenacity and determination of the Vietnamese people to preserve their history, honour the fallen, and fight for their sovereignty.

While the event was omitted from official narratives for many years, ongoing efforts to acknowledge and teach this history aim to preserve the memory of those who sacrificed their lives and to educate future generations about the complexities of Vietnam's past. Recognizing and understanding such events is crucial in shaping a nation's identity and ensuring that the lessons of history inform its future.​