According to Nguyen Van Loc, owner of the central province of Quang Ngai fishing boat QNg 96416 TS, he and 15 other fishermen faced the incident at around 10 am on June 10.
Loc and his fishing boat
While they were fishing at Lincoln Island, a rock in the Paracels, a Chinese vessel numbered 4006 chased and then rammed them, causing the boat to overturn and forcing all of its 16 people to jump overboard.
The fishermen shouted and screamed for help. Then the Chinese sent a boat to take the fishermen on board.
After being sunk at the depth of 3-4 metres, the Vietnamese fishing boat floated on the water surface again.
The Chinese seized one tonne of fish, two global positioning systems and other equipment from the fishermen. Many parts of the Quang Ngai fishing boat have also been severely damaged. The total loss is estimated at around VND500 milion (USD21,739).
The Chinese crew also beat Loc.
The Quang Ngai fishermen managed to take their boat ashore with the support from other Vietnamese fishermen.
After arriving ashore, all of the 16 fishermen have been sent to a quarantine zone for Covid-19 prevention.
In April, Vietnam lodged an official complaint with China following the sinking of another Quang Ngai fishing vessel near Paracel Island spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said.
The Vietnamese vessel, numbered QNg 90617 TS, with eight fishermen on board, was fishing near Phu Lam island on April 2 when a China coast guard ship hit and sank it. Luckily, the Vietnamese fishermen were safely rescued.
Hang reported a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi and presented the protest diplomatic note, asking the Chinese side to investigate and clarify and strictly handle civil servants and the Chinese vessel involved in the incident, 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 law, she said.
Such an act by the China coast guard ship violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel islands, causing damage, threatening the safety of life and the legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.
