China demanded to compensate Vietnamese fishermen

Vietnamese fishing boat coded QNg 90819 TS sank about 0.5 nautical mile to the northwest of Da Loi Reef at about 10am on March 6 after it was fired water canon by a Chinese coast guard ship coded 44101

On March 6, Chinese vessel numbered 44101 approached and fired water canon on a Vietnamese fishing boat coded QNg 90819 TS which was anchoring in the vicinity of Da Loi Reef in Viet Nam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, according to Vietnamese authorities.

While moving, the Vietnamese boat crashed into a reef and sank at an area about 0.5 nautical mile to the northwest of Da Loi Reef at about 10am.

All the five-member crew held on to the boat’s prow and went adrift until around 1pm when they were saved by another Vietnamese fishing boat.

On March 20, the Consular Department of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry met with representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Viet Nam to present a diplomatic note and protest against the Chinese ship’s action, which violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago and threatened life and damaged property and legitimate interests of the Vietnamese fishermen.

The department requested the Chinese Embassy to inform the Foreign Ministry and relevant agencies of China about the incident to strictly deal with the crew members of the abovementioned coast guard vessel, not let similar actions repeat, and pay proper compensation to the Vietnamese fishermen./.

By Vien Nhu