On Wednesday, Vietnam’s foreign ministry issued a strong condemnation of what it described as “brutal behavior” by Chinese law enforcement during a violent incident involving Vietnamese fishermen in the contentious South China Sea. The attack took place on Sunday near the Paracel Islands, a group of islands claimed by multiple nations, including China and Vietnam.
Reports indicate that a group of 10 Vietnamese fishermen was assaulted by approximately 40 individuals, who reportedly used iron bars during the attack and stole significant amounts of fish and fishing gear. Four crew members were hospitalized upon returning to Quang Ngai port, suffering serious injuries from the assault that lasted around three hours. Captain Nguyen Thanh Bien recounted the traumatic experience, revealing that he lost consciousness after being struck.
The Vietnamese foreign ministry’s spokesperson, Pham Thu Hang, expressed the country’s firm protest against the actions of the Chinese forces, stating that such behavior severely infringes upon Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, the Vietnamese name for the Paracel Islands.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry denied the claims but acknowledged that an incident had occurred. They reiterated China’s stance on its “indisputable sovereignty” over the Xisha Islands, the Chinese name for the Paracels, asserting that measures taken against the Vietnamese fishermen were lawful due to their alleged illegal fishing activities in the area.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry has demanded that China respect its sovereignty, urging a thorough investigation into the incident and a commitment to avoid future occurrences. In addition to this violent incident, another Vietnamese fishing boat reportedly suffered theft of equipment and fish worth over $12,000 in the same region on the same day.
The South China Sea remains a flashpoint for regional tensions, with China asserting expansive claims over the waterway, leading to confrontations with neighboring nations. The situation has been exacerbated by statements from Chinese military officials declaring an intent to counter any foreign intrusions in what China considers its maritime territory.
As the diplomatic fallout continues, both countries are expected to navigate the complex waters of sovereignty claims and regional security.
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