Battle of the Paracel Islands

Battle of the Paracel Islands
Part of the Vietnam War
Date 19–20 January 1974 (1 day) Location Paracel Islands Result Chinese victory Territorial changes China establishes full control over the Paracels
Belligerents
China	South Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
Zhang Yuanpei (张元培) Wei Mingsen (魏鸣森)	Colonel Hà Văn Ngạc
Strength
2 minesweepers 2 submarine chasers Patrol ships Infantry Militia	1 destroyer 2 frigates 1 minesweeper Commandos
Casualties and losses
18 killed[1] 67 wounded[1] 2 minesweepers damaged[1] 2 submarine chasers damaged[1]	100+ killed and wounded[1] 48 captured[1] 1 minesweeper sunk 1 destroyer damaged 2 frigates damaged

The Battle of the Paracel Islands (Chinese: 西沙海战, Pinyin: Xisha Haizhan；Vietnamese: Hải chiến Hoàng Sa) was a military engagement between the naval forces of China and South Vietnam in the Paracel Islands on January 19, 1974. The battle was an attempt by the South Vietnamese navy to expel the Chinese navy from the vicinity. The confrontation took place towards the end of the Vietnam War.

Prior to the conflict, part of the Paracel Islands was controlled by China and another part was controlled by South Vietnam. The battle resulted in a victory for China over South Vietnam. Consequently, the PRC occupied the portion formerly controlled by South Vietnam and established full de facto control over the Paracels.