VN demands China investigate beating, robbery against Vietnamese fishermen

September 10, 2014 | 09:29

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Viet Nam demands that China conduct investigation and strictly deal with the recent beating and robbery by its forces targeting Vietnamese fishermen, stated Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh on September 9.

According to authorised agencies of Viet Nam, on August 1 and 14, 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 Viet Nam.

More seriously, on August 15, 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 Viet Nam’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 Viet Nam’s reaction to those acts.

It also went against the Viet Nam-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.

“Viet Nam 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 9, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry met with Chinese embassy representatives in Ha Noi to hand over a diplomatic note of protest.

VGP

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