Vietnam protests, demands compensation for fishing ship China sank in Hoang Sa waters

The Vietnamese vessel, number QNg 90617 TS, with eight fishermen on board, was fishing near Phú Lâm Island on April 2nd when a Chinese marine surveillance ship hit and sank it.

She said the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Ha Noi and presented the protest note, asking the Chinese to investigate and clarify and strictly handle civil servants and the Chinese vessel mentioned above, not to repeat similar actions and at the same time adequately compensate for the losses of Vietnamese fishermen.

Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence affirming its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in accordance with international laws.

Such an act by a Chinese marine surveillance ship violates Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, causing damages, threatening the safety of life and the legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.

It also went against the common awareness of the leaders of the two countries on the humane treatment of fishermen and the Agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues in Vietnam - China, contrary to the spirit of the Declaration of Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which complicates the situation and is not conducive to bilateral relations as well as the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea.

According to information from the Vietnamese authorities, on April 3rd, 2020, eight Vietnamese fishermen aboard the QNg 90617 TS were safely rescued. /.