Lý Thường Kiệt
On 16 January 1974, the South Vietnamese frigate spotted Chinese forces ashore on the islands. Both "Lý Thường Kiệt" and the Chinese ordered one another to withdraw, and neither side did. Reinforcements arrived for both sides over the next three days, including "Trần Bình Trọng", which appeared on the scene on 18 January 1974 with the commander of the Republic of Vietnam Navy, Captain Hà Văn Ngạc, aboard.