Vietnamese fishing boats - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has lodged an official complaint with China following thesinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel near the former’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said on April 3.
The Vietnamese vessel,number QNg 90617 TS, with eight fishermen on board, was fishing nearPhu Lam island on April 2 when a Chinacoast guard ship hit and sank it.
Hang said a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with arepresentative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi and presented the protest diplomatic note, asking the Chinese side to investigate and clarify and strictlyhandle civil servants and the Chinese vessel mentioned above, not to repeatsimilar actions and at the same time adequately compensate for the losses ofVietnamese fishermen.
Vietnam hassufficient legal grounds and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty overHoang Sa (Paracel) andTruong Sa (Spratly)archipelagoes in accordance with international law, she said.
Such an act by the China coast guard ship violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel islands, causing damage, threatening thesafety of life and the legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.
It also went againstthe common perception of senior leaders of the two countries on the humane treatment offishermen and the Vietnam-China agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement ofmaritime issues, and in contrary to the spirit of the Declaration of Conduct of theParties in the East Sea(DOC), which complicates the situation and is not conducive to the bilateral relations as well as themaintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea.
According to information fromthe Vietnamese authorities, on April 3, 2020, eight Vietnamese fishermen aboardthe QNg 90617 TS were safely rescued./.
The Vietnamese vessel,number QNg 90617 TS, with eight fishermen on board, was fishing nearPhu Lam island on April 2 when a Chinacoast guard ship hit and sank it.
Hang said a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with arepresentative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi and presented the protest diplomatic note, asking the Chinese side to investigate and clarify and strictlyhandle civil servants and the Chinese vessel mentioned above, not to repeatsimilar actions and at the same time adequately compensate for the losses ofVietnamese fishermen.
Vietnam hassufficient legal grounds and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty overHoang Sa (Paracel) andTruong Sa (Spratly)archipelagoes in accordance with international law, she said.
Such an act by the China coast guard ship violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel islands, causing damage, threatening thesafety of life and the legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.
It also went againstthe common perception of senior leaders of the two countries on the humane treatment offishermen and the Vietnam-China agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement ofmaritime issues, and in contrary to the spirit of the Declaration of Conduct of theParties in the East Sea(DOC), which complicates the situation and is not conducive to the bilateral relations as well as themaintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea.
According to information fromthe Vietnamese authorities, on April 3, 2020, eight Vietnamese fishermen aboardthe QNg 90617 TS were safely rescued./.
VNA
