Vietnam opposes Chinese ships’ ramming
Vietnam has opposed Chinese ships’ recent ramming of a Vietnamese fishing vessel in the area within the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
A Foreign Ministry representative on May 26 met and delivered a diplomatic note to a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, expressing opposition against the Chinese action.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi said on May 27 that such action by the Chinese ship seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the East Sea, causes material losses and threatens the lives of Vietnamese fishermen.“This action runs counter to an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China, against the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East (DOC) and further complicates the situation at sea.
“Vietnam requests China to strictly deal with the behaviour of the ships involved, properly compensate Vietnamese fishermen and prevent a similar incident from happening again,” Nghi said.
On May 20, fishing boat QNg 90917 TS and its 15-member crew were conducting normal fishing activities in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf when the Chinese boats interrupted.
More seriously, Chinese ship No. 264 rammed the Vietnamese boat, damaging the freeboard and threatening the lives of the fishermen on board.
On May 27, the Fund for Support of Fishermen and the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Quang Ngai province handed over financial assistance to the owner of fishing boat QNg 90917 TS to help the boat have repaired to soon resume normal fishing operations.