According to authorised agencies of Vietnam, on August 1st and 14th, two Vietnamese fishing boats from Quang Ngai , the QNg 96416 TS and QNg 96674 TS, were constrained and robbed by a number of Chinese ships while they were conducting regular fishing at the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago waters of Vietnam.
More seriously, on August 15th, while fishing in Hoang Sa waters, another Quang Ngai fishing vessel, the QNg 96697 TS, was stopped by two Chinese speedboats, both coded 207, whose crew illegally confiscated some property, destroyed equipment and beat Vietnamese fishermen on board, reported the agencies.
“The acts violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the East Sea, running counter to international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC),” Binh said i n response to reporters’ question about Vietnam’s reaction to those acts.
It also went against the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, and the common perception of both countries’ leaders on humane treatment of fishermen, he stressed.
“Vietnam demands that China investigate and seriously deal with the activities, at the same time prevent such acts from recurring and make proper compensation for Vietnamese fishermen,” stated Binh.
He also revealed that on September 9th, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry met with Chinese embassy representatives in Hanoi to hand over a diplomatic note of protest.
Source – Vietnamplus
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