Huynh Van Hoanh, 43, owner of the fishing boat QNg 90495 TS and captain Huynh Van Tien, 26, and eight crew members returned to Sa Ky Port in Binh Son District at 7.30 pm on August 29 to inform local authorities that they had been chased and attacked by a Chinese Coast Guard patrol vessel. Some crew members were injured while their property was damaged.

According to the fishermen, the incident occurred at 5 am on August 28 when they were fishing off Woody (Phu Lam) Island in the Paracels in the East Sea. A Chinese Coast Guard vessel appeared from nowhere and approached the Quang Ngai boat and sprayed water onto them with big hoses. Two fishermen were injured and some electronic devices on the boat were damaged.

"I fell over and broke one of my arms when the hoses hit me," Hoanh said. "Captain Tien got injuries in his head. Other members tried to hide as many wooden and glass items on the boat were broken and could have hurt us. Our boat was about to sink but we managed to pump water out."

When the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 4201 left at about 3 pm, another Chinese vessel, numbered 4104, approached and offered to give medical treatment for the injured Quang Ngai fishermen. However, the local fishermen refused and ran to shore.

The two injured fishermen were then taken to hospital for treatment. Quang Ngai authorities are investigating the case.