The Johnson South skirmish took place in 1988 and saw Chinese Navy troops shoot and kill 64 Vietnamese soldiers who were attempting to land and raise a flag to claim control over the reef. This event has been commemorated in the past without the government's sanction, but recently there have been noticeable changes with public rallies being held and the government using a more confrontational language. It is hoped that a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea will help reduce tensions and prevent conflicts in the region.

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