Chinese fishing ships on June 13 intentionally formed a row, 35
nautical miles from China’s drilling rig illegally placed in Vietnam’s waters,
in order to prevent Vietnamese fishing boats from operating in their
traditional grounds near the rig, according to the Vietnam Fisheries Resources
Surveillance Department.
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Chinese ships continue violently preventing
Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance vessels from nearing the drilling rig that is
illegally placed in Vietnam's waters.
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Throughout the day, China maintained the presence of 116 ships,
including two coast guard vessels, 14 cargo ships, 18 tugboats and six
warships, around the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 illegally stationed in
Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Chinese coast guard vessels and tugboats kept a distance of 50-100m
from Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance vessels to aggressively prevent them
from nearing the rig.
The Chinese ships came alongside and were always ready to ram into and
prohibit the Vietnamese vessels from carrying out their missions.
Despite unfavourable weather and China’s aggressive acts, Vietnam’s
Fisheries Surveillance and fishing vessels persistently stayed in the area to
continue their duties and normal activities.
At the beginning of May, China illegally dispatched the rig, as well
as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, to Vietnam’s
waters and positioned it at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and
111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, 80 nautical miles deep inside
Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.
On May 26, Chinese ships sank a fishing boat belonging to Da Nang
fishermen operating in the traditional fishing grounds near Vietnam ’s Hoang Sa
archipelago.
On June 1, Chinese ships seriously damaged ship 2016 of the Vietnam
Coast Guard, causing many holes on its side.
On June 7, Chinese ships deliberately rammed into Vietnam’s fisheries
surveillance ship KN-635, causing more damage.
Source: VNA
