WORDS ON THE STREET 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
Hanoi urged to increase patrol in South China Sea to protect fishermen from Chinese harassment
Linh Pham 22:13, 2019/07/30
Vietnamese fishermen must be better protected from Chinese harassment, a society has said.
The Vietnam Fisheries Society on July 30 has called for more patrol in the South China Sea (SCS) to better protect Vietnamese fishermen amid China’s aggression by deploying a survey ship and escorts within Vietnamese territorial waters.
 
A Vietnamese fishing boat robbed by a Chinese vessel within Vietnam's territorial water in early June. Photo: Quang Nam newspaper
A Vietnamese fishing boat robbed by a Chinese vessel within Vietnam's territorial waters in early June. Photo: Quang Nam newspaper
The society raised voice protesting Chinese violations of Vietnamese territorial waters in the SCS, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, demanding Chinese boats to leave immediately. 
 
The society made the strong protest in a document filing to several Vietnamese agencies including the Government Office, the Party’s Foreign Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 
 
The protest was made after fishermen in Vietnam’s southern and northern central regions reported that the survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 intruded into Vietnamese exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf near Bai Tu Chinh (Vanguard Bank) in the south of SCS. 
 
This sea area entirely lies within Vietnam’s territorial water defined in the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNLOS) 1982 which both Vietnam and China are members of. 
 
In March, a China Maritime Surveillance Vessel chased a Vietnamese fishing boat which moored near Da Loi Island (Discovery Reef) in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and fired water cannon at the boat.
 
The boat sank after hitting rocks while it was being chased. All five fishermen on board were rescued by another Vietnamese fishing boat, according to the MOFA.
 
Earlier this month, Haiyang Dizhi 8 and escorts encroached on Vietnamese waters, sparking protest from the MOFA and the US Department of State. 
 
The US called Chinese acts “bullying”, saying that China’s reclamation and militarization of disputed outposts in the waterway, including the use of maritime militia to intimidate, coerce, and threaten other nations, undermine the peace and security of the region.
Other news
13:13, 2024/11/22
International Food Festival 2024 to gather stands from 60 countries, territories
This year's festival, themed "Connecting Cuisine", is an opportunity to showcase and promote each country's culinary culture, promoting cultural diplomacy.
13:12, 2024/11/22
Vietnam news in brief - November 22
Read about the latest developments in Vietnam on The Hanoi Times News in Brief.
15:01, 2024/11/21
Vietnam, Dominican Republic strengthen economic ties
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that both sides speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement, an investment protection agreement, and visa exemptions for ordinary passport holders.
14:41, 2024/11/21
Vietnam news in brief - November 21
Read the Hanoi Times News in Brief for more updates on Vietnam.
17:27, 2024/11/20
Vietnam strives to reach net zero targets before 2050: PM
Vietnam is dedicated to working alongside other nations and partners to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.
15:55, 2024/11/20
Prime Minister meets world leaders at G20
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Joe Biden, and other world leaders and international organizations at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.