Vietnam: A History of Settler Colonialism

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越南如何建立民族主义叙事（参考bill hayton 的书,the invention of china)

maybe write an article “the invention of Vietnam”

Vietnam's nationalist narrative after the decline of the Champa kingdom involved several key elements:

Downplaying Champa's Role in Vietnamese History: The search results indicate that French colonial scholars and early Vietnamese nationalist historians tended to portray Vietnam as heavily influenced by and borrowing from Chinese culture, minimizing the distinct Austroasiatic roots of Vietnamese civilization. This allowed the Vietnamese to situate themselves as heirs to a "superior" Chinese civilization that they had to defend against.

Constructing a Narrative of Continuous Vietnamese Autonomy: The national school of Vietnamese history sought to depict an "original Vietnam" that had miraculously preserved its autonomy and identity despite a millennium of Chinese rule. This narrative traced Vietnam's lineage back to semi-legendary dynasties like the Hồng Bàng, portraying Vietnam as an equal to the "Northern Empire" (China) that had repeatedly defeated foreign invaders.

Emphasizing Anti-Colonial Resistance: As French colonial rule was established, Vietnamese nationalism became increasingly driven by anti-colonialism. Leaders like Ho Chi Minh opposed French rule and were drawn to communism as a means of liberating Vietnam from foreign domination, further shaping the nationalist narrative.

Dividing North and South: During the Vietnam War, Vietnamese nationalism was split between the Chinese and Soviet-aligned North Vietnam and the US-backed South Vietnam. This led to ongoing controversies over national symbols and identity that persist to this day.

In summary, the Vietnamese nationalist narrative after the decline of Champa involved downplaying external cultural influences, constructing a myth of continuous autonomy, emphasizing anti-colonial resistance, and navigating the divisions between North and South Vietnam during the Cold War period. This allowed Vietnam to forge a distinct national identity in the face of foreign domination.

The Vietnamese government has employed several strategies to shape public opinion and build a nationalist narrative around its claims in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam):

Downplaying the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War: The Vietnamese government has systematically restricted official commemorations and silenced public discussion of the 1979 border war with China. It aims to avoid mentioning China as an "invader" and instead describes the conflict as a "struggle to defend the northern border". This is likely done to normalize relations with China.

Emphasizing Historical Claims: Vietnam asserts it has "full legal basis and historical evidence" to claim sovereignty over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, aligning with international law like UNCLOS. The government portrays any violation of its claimed territory as illegal.

Controlling Media Narratives: During the 2014 oil rig crisis with China, Vietnam relaxed restrictions on media coverage of past Sino-Vietnamese conflicts to bolster its claims in the South China Sea dispute. However, the government still avoids directly labeling China as an aggressor.

Promoting Anti-American Narratives: The Vietnamese government frequently portrays "hostile forces" and "reactionary groups" as being backed by the U.S. to undermine Vietnam's communist regime. This anti-American propaganda is used to rally nationalist sentiment and distract from domestic issues.

Balancing Relations with China and the U.S.: While Vietnam relies on China economically and for arms imports, it also has a comprehensive partnership with the U.S. The government has to carefully navigate this balance, as pro-Western factions in the Communist Party have declined in influence.

In summary, the Vietnamese government employs a mix of historical claims, media control, anti-foreign narratives, and a delicate foreign policy balancing act to shape public opinion and nationalist sentiment around its South China Sea claims. However, this is complicated by economic realities and the need to maintain relations with both China and the U.S.