A Chinese vessel rammed and fired its water cannon at a Vietnamese fishing boat in a 3-hour attack in a Vietnamese sea area of northern Hai Phong City’s Co To Island last Friday.
>> China sends largest supply ship to East Vietnam Sea amid tension >> China sends 'fishing' boats with reinforced prows to Vietnam's waters >> 2 more Vietnamese fishing boats attacked by Chinese vessels>> Clip: Chinese vessel rams, sinks Vietnam fishing boat
After escaping the assault, the fishing boat, HP 90258 TS, finally returned to Mat Rong Port in the city on Monday. The captain, Nguyen Duc Quang, spoke to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about what had happened to him and his four crew members.
On the morning of June 6, Quang’s boat was operating in its fishing ground in Vietnam’s Gulf of Tonkin about 30 nautical miles off the island when it was approached by a large Chinese iron-clad ship, # 45024.
The encroaching foreign boat was painted in white with blue stripes and had a two-storey cabin, Quang said, adding that there was a gun covered with a wrap at the prow of the vessel.
The English words “China Guard Type” were written on its side, along with several Chinese characters, he said.
About 20 people in camouflaged combat clothing were standing on the deck of the foreign vessel. Many of them held sticks in their hands.
As these people uncovered the gun and directed it at the local vessel and then threw bottles, jars and other objects at his boat, Quang tried to steer his ship away from the scene, but the foreign boat chased and fired a water cannon at the local boat, the Vietnamese captain said.
The Chinese ship then rammed Quang’s boat several times, breaking one of its sides and its stern. Quang tried to steer his boat away, but the foreign vessel continued to chase it.
“They deliberately drove our boat into China’s waters. When we tried to escape their ‘trap,’ they continued to crash into our boat,” Quang said.
“The attack lasted for about three hours and our vessel was rammed seven times before we could escape successfully and head for Co To Island. Later, I arrived at the island’s border guard station to report the attack,” the captain said.
The provincial Headquarters of the Border Guard assigned staff members to meet Quang and other crew members to record their statements.
Local police and the prosecutor’s office have also examined Quang’s boat to record damage caused by the Chinese ship.
Based on the statements of the crew members and their boat’s GPS, the Headquarters of the Border Guard concluded that the local boat was run after and driven by the Chinese ship into Chinese waters at a distance of 1.6 nautical miles from the Tonkin Gulf delineation line.
Although the Chinese vessel tried to prevent the Vietnamese boat from returning to Vietnamese waters, Quang tried to pilot his boat to return and head toward Co To Island, the headquarters said.
In total, the Chinese boat slammed into Quang’s boat seven times, causing damage worth about VND300 million (US$14,150), the captain said.
Relevant agencies are continuing to collect more information and evidence about the assault.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Đăng ký: VietNam News