HCMC – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has protested to China after a Vietnamese fishing boat was sunk by a Chinese vessel in the East Sea, and asked China to provide Vietnamese fishermen with adequate compensation for the loss.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang, Vietnam’s fishing boat QNg90617 TS with eight crew members on board was recently sunk after being blocked and then struck by a Chinese coast guard vessel in the waters belonging to Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.
“Vietnam has repeatedly stated it has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, in line with international law. The action by the Chinese ship violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel archipelago, causing property damage, threatening the safety, lives and legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen,” Hang told the press on April 3.
“The action runs counter to the common concerns of the two countries’ leaders on the humane treatment of fishermen and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of territorial border issues between the two countries. It also goes against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), complicates the situation and is detrimental to the two countries’ relationships, as well as to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea,” the spokesperson added.
In a diplomatic note delivered to a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam opposed the incident and requested that the Chinese launch investigations and strictly deal with those involved in the incident.
Vietnam also asked China to provide Vietnamese fishermen with adequate compensation for the damage and ensure similar actions will not happen again.
According to the Vietnam News Agency, the eight crew members aboard the sunken vessel were rescued by Vietnamese vessels.
