Quần đảo Hoàng Sa or  Paracel Islands include over 30 islets, sandbanks and reefs over a maritime area of around 15,000 square kilometres (5,800 sq mi) with less than 8 square kilometres (3.1 sq mi) of land. It had been under the administration of Vietnam since 15th century until ARVN forces were repelled by the PLA navy in 1974. It has since been occupied by the Chinese military and the Chinese colonization of the islands have taken place.

Read more: http://eyedrd.org/2014/04/40-years-chinese-occupation-hoang-sa-paracel-islands-xisha-islands.html