China urged to stop harassing Vietnamese fishermen

“Once again, Viet Nam demands China stop its inhumane actions, endangering lives and damaging the property and legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen,” Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh said on May 27 in response to questions from the media about the recent attacks.

He asked the Chinese side to respect international law, punish those responsible in earnest, pay adequate compensation and prevent a repeat of the behaviour.

Vietnamese agencies familiar with the situation have reported that since early May, many Vietnamese fishing boats have repeatedly been disrupted in their duties and driven away by Chinese ships, causing losses of property. Chinese forces have also been responsible for beating and injuring Vietnamese fishermen, threatening their lives.

The actions by China violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction in the East Sea, running counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), Binh stressed, adding that China continues complicating the situation in the East Sea.

On May 27, the Consulate Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Ha Noi and handed over a diplomatic note against the actions.

On May 7, Viet Nam’s fishing boat QNg 96416-TS, carrying 16 fishermen on board from central Quang Ngai province, was attacked by Chinese ships when it was operating in its regular fishing grounds in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, suffering damage to its sides and cabin.

The incident happened when the boat was fishing at an area at 16 degrees 50 minutes north latitude and 112 degrees 49 minutes east longitude, about 10 nautical miles from Linh Con Island which belongs to Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

Chinese ship 1241 suddenly appeared, fired flares and then a water cannon at the Vietnamese boat. Those on the Chinese vessel threw many heavy objects, including hammers and large bolts, at the fishing boat. A Chinese fishery surveillance vessel then rammed into the Vietnamese ship, breaking its right side and cabin wall. Losses are estimated at 890 million VND (41,800 USD).

At 11pm on May 16, Viet Nam’s fishing boat QNg 90205-TS’s regular operation in the traditional fishing ground in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago was disrupted by a Chinese ship coded 306. This happed at 16 degrees 55 minutes north latitude and 112 degrees 21 minutes east longitude near Phu Lam Island which belongs to Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa archipelago.

Vietnamese fishermen were then beaten by crew members of the Chinese ship while their property, including satellite positioning and communications equipment, was taken away. The attack seriously injured fishermen Nguyen Huyen Le Anh and Nguyen Tan Hai.

On May 17, Viet Nam’s fishing boat QNg 96011-TS with 13 fishermen on board was attacked by a Chinese ship coded 21102 while it was operating at 15 degrees 16 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 18 minutes east longitude, about 31 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island, belonging to Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa archipelago. Property and fishing tools on board were seized. Losses are estimated at 50 million VND (2,350 USD)

Then, most recently, on May 26, Chinese ship coded 11209 sank a Vietnamese fishing boat with 10 members on board in Viet Nam’s waters. The Vietnamese boat DNa 90152, from the central city of Da Nang, was operating in its traditional fishing grounds when it was rammed by China’s ship 11209 until it sank.

The location at 15 degrees 16 minutes 42 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 1 minute 30 seconds east longitude is the a well-known fishing area for Vietnamese fishermen in Hoang Sa archipelago. All the 10 sailors were rescued by coast guard and fishery surveillance ships of Viet Nam.

At the beginning of May, China illegally placed the rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 rig, as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location is 80 miles deep inside Viet Nam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Chinese ships have repeatedly rammed and fired water cannons into Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships which are carrying out their law enforcement missions in Viet Nam’s waters, leaving many Vietnamese boats damaged and officers injured.-VNA