TĐH: Woody Island, also called Yongxing Island (simplified Chinese: 永兴岛; traditional Chinese: 永興島; pinyin: Yǒngxīng Dǎo; lit.: ‘Eternal Prosperity Island’) in People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Phu Lam Island (Vietnamese: Đảo Phú Lâm) in Vietnam, is the largest of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea (SCS), with an area of 2.1 square kilometres (0.81 sq mi). Wooddy Island and the rest of Paracels were taken by China’s intrusion forces from The Republic of Vietnam (Việt Nam Cộng Hòa) in the Paracel Battle of Jan. 1974. War of Aggression to take a disputed territory is a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, and cannot constitute a legitimate an legal possession of the territory. See China’s Three Wars of Aggression against the Vietnamese People)

The island has been under the control of the People’s Republic of China since 1956. It is administered by Sansha, a town located on the island.

BY ZACHARY HAVER | SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
AMTI UPDATE CSIS

On August 26, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security added 24 Chinese companies to the Entity List for their activities in the South China Sea. The bureau targeted these entities specifically for “their role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize the internationally condemned artificial islands in the South China Sea.” On the same day, the U.S. Department of State announced visa restrictions on Chinese individuals involved in reclamation, construction, militarization, and coercion in the South China Sea. While these measures come far too late to halt China’s island building campaign in the Spratly Islands, Washington’s latest steps illuminate the influence of companies in these disputes. Corporate activity, particularly the corporate activity associated with Sansha City, supports China’s efforts to exercise administrative control over the South China Sea.