A fishing boat from the central province of Quang Ngai was attacked by a Chinese fisheries administration ship on May 16 when it was operating in the traditional fishing ground in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

According to Pham Van On, chief of the Office of the provincial Steering Board for Flood and Storm Control and Search and Rescue, China’s ship 306 attacked boat QNg 90205-TS and beat the Vietnamese fishermen. Two of the 12 fishermen on board the victim boat suffered from serious injuries. Crew members on the Chinese ship also damaged and took away all properties on the Vietnamese fishing boat.

After being assailed, the boat, captained by Nguyen Van Quang from Binh Son district, managed to escape and then get medical assistance from Vietnam’s coast guard vessels, he said, adding it is now on the way back to the land.

Previously, on May 7, fishing boat QNg 96416-TS, captained and owned by Nguyen Van Loc from An Vinh commune, Ly Son district, Quang Ngai province, was chased and rammed by a Chinese ship in the Hoang Sa area, suffering from damage to its sides and cabin.

Also on May 7, fishing boat QNg 96147, captained by Duong Van Giau from An Hai commune, Ly Son district, was chased by a Chinese military ship.

People from the Chinese ship got on the Vietnamese boat and beat fishermen on board, destroying all communications equipment and robbing the fishermen of all their catches.

Over recent time, many fishing boats from Quang Ngai were chased and harassed by Chinese ships in Hoang Sa waters and fishermen were taken captive illegally by the Chinese side, while their properties and catches as well as equipment on their boats seized.-VNA