Thousands of fishermen and members of the fisheries trade union in the central province of Quang Nam on May 11 protested China ’s recent violation of Vietnamese sovereignty.

China’s illegal placement of a drilling rig and deployment of many escorting ships within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf have stirred discontent among the Vietnamese people and caused difficulties for fishermen operarting in their traditional fishing grounds, they said.

Quang Nam fishermen also expressed their anger at Chinese ships for ramming on-duty Vietnamese coast guard and fishery administration vessels, causing damage and injuring crew members.

Together with people nationwide, Quang Ngai fishermen strongly oppose China ’s violations, demanding the country promptly withdraw its rig and ships from Vietnam’s waters and immediately stop provocative actions that hinder Vietnamese fishermen from operating.

Ho Thanh Huong, head of the fisheries trade union in Binh Minh commune, Thang Binh district, called on the fishermen to promote solidarity and continue working determinedly at sea, contributing to protecting national sea and island sovereignty.

Like their colleagues in Quang Nam , fishermen in the central province of Quang Ngai have continued working in their traditional fishing grounds despite Chinese aggression.

Quang Ngai now has nearly 6,000 fishing boats, including 2,400 operating in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.-VNA