Vietnam has accused the Chinese Coast Guard of sinking a fishing boat near a disputed island chain, authorities said yesterday, ahead of key UN-backed ruling on claims in the flashpoint South China Sea.
Two Vietnamese boats were chased by a pair of Chinese Coast Guard ships on Saturday afternoon off Vietnam’s Quang Ngai province, the Vietnam Fisheries Society said in a statement.
One ship was boarded by Chinese coast guards who forced the crew overboard, the society said, while a second vessel was prevented from reaching the stranded fishermen.
“Chinese men jumped onto fisherman Vo Van Luu’s boat, struck the Vietnamese sailors and... sunk the vessel,” forcing five crew members overboard, the statement said.
The five fishermen remained in the sea until dark, when the second Vietnamese vessel was able to approach the area.
The society “condemned” the incident and demanded compensation from China. There was no immediate comment from China on the allegations.
Beijing lays claim to virtually all of the South China Sea, putting it at odds with Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, which also have claims.
Vietnam and China frequently trade diplomatic barbs over the disputed Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands, 西沙群島).
China is encouraging patriotic tourists to visit the contested Paracels. Such acts have deepened already simmering anti-Chinese sentiment in Vietnam.
At least three Chinese were killed in 2014 when rioting broke out in Vietnam after Beijing sent an oil rig into the contested waters.
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