CATEGORIES

© Copyright 2004; Hanoitimes - Economic and Urban Newspaper;

The tribune of Hanoi People’s Committee

Publication Permit: 29/GP-CBC

Editor - in - Chief: Nguyen Thanh Loi

Managing Editor: Ta Thu Giang

Email : thugiang@hanoitimes.vn

Head Office: 21 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi

Branch Office: 221 Tran Phu Street, Ha Dong District, Hanoi

70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / News
At UN, Philippines thanks Vietnam for rescuing its fishermen
Linh Pham 11:19, 2019/06/19
Philippine Foreign Secretary Locsin said "we are eternally in debt to our strategic partner, Vietnam, for this act of mercy and decency."
Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr has thanked Vietnam for rescuing 22 Filipino fishermen after they were rammed by a Chinese vessel. 
 
Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr at the UN headquarters on June 17. Photo: Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs
Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr at the UN headquarters on June 17. Photo: Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs
“The 22 Filipino crew were left in the water until a Vietnamese vessel took them on board. We are eternally grateful, we are eternally in debt to our strategic partner, Vietnam, for this act of mercy and decency,” Locsin said in a speech on June 17 at the UN Headquarters in New York. 
 
Locsin raised the boat sinking case speaking at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the enforcement of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), according to the Rappler. 

In his speech, the Philippines’ top diplomat slammed the “felony” of abandoning persons in distress.

Locsin’s accusation came following the case in which Chinese ship Yuemaobinyu 42212 hit and rammed Filipino ship F/B Gemvir with 22 crew members aboard on June 9 and ran away in Reed Bank or Recto Bank (11°20′N 116°50′E) in the South China Sea’s Spratly Islands. 

Locsin delivered his UN speech hours after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte dismissed the boat sinking at Recto Bank as a “maritime incident.”
 
On June 14, the Chinese embassy in Manila confirmed that the vessel that sank the Filipino fishing boat was indeed Chinese, but that its crew had to abandon efforts to rescue the beleaguered fishermen after getting “besieged” by seven to eight other Filipino boats. The Philippines immediately rejected Beijing’s claims.
 
Justine Pascual (left) and JP Gordiones (right) recall the moments they were rescued. Photo Rappler/LeAnne Jazul
Justine Pascual (left) and JP Gordiones (right) recall the moments they were rescued. Photo Rappler/LeAnne Jazul
On the same day, the crew men told media that they were rescued at sea by Vietnamese fishermen. 

On June 18, Pham Anh Tuan, deputy head of People’s Committee in Vietnam’s southern province of Tien Giang affirmed that 10 crew men on board TG-90983-TS owned by Ngo Van Theng had rescued the Filipino crew in distress at sea, according to the Vietnamese newspaper Thanh Nien. 

One of Filipino crew narrated that after he connected his index fingers to demonstrate “Vietnam? Philippines? Friends,” the Vietnamese replied, “Okay”, the Rappler reported. 

Meanwhile, the ABS-CBN News reported that boat captain Junel Insigne said the Chinese fishing vessel stopped for a while and flashed its lights.

Instead of rescuing the distressed fishermen, the Chinese fishing vessel maneuvered in reverse and rushed off, Insigne recalled.

After two hours, the two Filipino crew members reached a boat. Based on its appearance, they were able to determine that it was from Vietnam. They rowed to the rear then a fisherman named Pascual yelled “Help me!”

They dropped us a nylon cord and they pulled us up. They allowed us to board, said Filipino fisherman Gordiones.

The Vietnamese also pulled the rest of the Filipino crew on board, then fed them afterwards with chicken, noodles, and biscuits.

Thanks to the Vietnamese crew, Insigne was able to radio the information to the Philippines.
Comments
Other news
21:06, 2024/04/27
Hanoi streets colored ahead of Reunification Day
The banners and posters depict the 49th anniversary of Reunification Day, the 141st anniversary of International Workers’ Day, and the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory.
12:57, 2024/04/27
New Year of Asian countries celebrated in Hanoi
The Lunar New Year, collectively known as Water Festival, is not held in any country but has taken place in Hanoi for 20 years, demonstrating Hanoi is City for Peace and Vietnam is a destination of friendship.
19:03, 2024/04/26
Party Central Committee accepts National Assembly Chairman's resignation
Vuong Dinh Hue has violated the Party's rules on prohibited behaviors for Party members, the regulations on the responsibility of Party officials and members, especially Politburo members, to set an example.
20:08, 2024/04/25
Vietnam, Indonesia eye lifting relations
The two ASEAN member states are working on multifaceted cooperation, especially economic ties, with a view to upgrading relations when they celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral ties in 2025.
11:58, 2024/04/25
Vietnam news in brief - April 25
Keep up to date with Vietnam news via The Hanoi Times.
09:12, 2024/04/25
AI Connect: Vietnam, US join hands to boost cooperation in Asia-Pacific
AI Connect program is designed to empower low- and middle-income countries from the Global South which includes Vietnam to engage more effectively in international AI policy.