Vietnam should pay attention to all its sea areas in addition to the area where China illegally installed an oil rig, said one official.
Dr. Nguyen Viet Thang, Chairman of Vietnam Fisheries Society, said that China may continue to escalate infringements into other sea areas belonging to Vietnam.
According to Thang, recent information indicates that China's intention to consolidate control over Gac Ma Island in the Truong Sa archipelago.
“While relevant forces, including Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries and Vietnam Coast Guard, are paying due attention protection of the area containing the Haiyang-981 oil rig, localities across Vietnam should remain vigilant their territorial waters. We should not be distracted into ignoring our other sea areas," he warned.
Chairman of Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries, Nguyen Viet Thang.
He added that amid current tensions over the East Sea, it is necessary to group Vietnamese fishing boats and call for more long-term stays in Vietnamese territorial seas.
Vietnamese fishermen determined to protect sea areas despite rising tension
“Despite the many challenges posed by the aggressive behaviour from China, Vietnamese fishermen have been determined to occupy Vietnamese sea areas," he said.
He admitted that Vietnamese fishermen have been encountered obstruction and sabotage by Chinese vessels. Chinese fishing boats have attack Vietnamese fishing ships and tried to prevent them from passing through certain areas. Some Vietnamese boats have even been boarded, the violators destroying property and stealing payloads.
Vietnam Fisheries Society plans to hold more meetings to oppose China’s incursions in national waters
“China has continued to drive Vietnamese fishermen from the area of the HD-981 oil rig and forced Vietnamese ships to change direction,” Thang noted,
Apart from the location of the oil rig location, there have been other incursions by Chinese fishing ships in Vietnamese seas, including around Phu Quoc Island.
