The fishing boat was drifting at sea for the last few days after itsengine broke down and the fishermen had to use blankets to make up asail. It was later spotted by a Chinese patrol ship and nine fishermenon board together with the boat were taken to the Tru Cau island of theHoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago for shelter.
On theafternoon of the same day, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ho XuanSon met Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Sun Guoxiang, requesting thatChina soon verify and confirm the information for Vietnam to safelybring the boat and its crew home at the earliest.
According to the Vietnamese Embassy in China, at 17:30hrs (Vietnamesetime) on Oct. 16, 2010, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed thatChina took fishing boat QNg 66487 TS and its nine-member crew to anisland of the Hoang Sa archipelago.
The Chineseside has provided food and drinks, the embassy said. However, due to thebad weather, the fishing boat and its crew will have to stay on theisland for the next few days, said the embassy.
TheVietnamese Foreign Ministry said it would have exchanges with Chinato safely bring fishing boat QNg 66487 TS and its nine-member crew homeas soon as possible./.