A fishing boat from Quang Ngai province with six sailors on board was sunk by Chinese vessels on July 9 while fishing near the Paracel (Hoang Sa) Islands. (Photo: tuoitre/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Fisheries Trade Union (VFTU) objected to Chinese vessels attacking Vietnamese fishing boats in a statement on July 11.
The statement was issued following an incident in which fishing boat QNg 90479-TS from central Quang Ngai province with six sailors on board was attacked and sunk by Chinese vessels at around 11:00 am on July 9 while fishing near the Paracel (Hoang Sa) Islands.
The Vietnamese boat was steamed towards by two Chinese ships, numbered 46101 and 35103, which then released two speedboats to hound and ram into it. At the same time, a group of Chinese men jumped into the boat and ruthlessly beat its captain, Vo Van Luu, with truncheons, the statement said.
The attack caused damage in the boat’s sides and eventually sunk it, it noted.
The VFTU added that the Chinese vessels also prevented other Vietnamese boats nearby from approaching and rescuing the fishermen on board.
The fishermen were finally saved by another fishing boat from Quang Ngai run by Captain Huynh Van Khanh at 19:00 the same day.
The trade union stated it strongly opposed China’s use of violence against the Vietnamese fishermen that have threatened their lives and caused them heavy economic losses.
It requested Vietnam’s authorities to take prompt actions to protect the fishermen and their properties at sea as well as prevent similar incidents from happening.-VNA
