Vietnam on March 25 protested China’s recent chase and firing at its
fishing boat in the waters of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel)
archipelago, and demanded the Chinese side to investigate the incident.

Answering reporters’ queries regarding Vietnam’s
response to the case, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said
that on March 20, the QNg 96382 TS fishing boat of the central province
of Quang Ngai was conducting its normal fishing activity at the
traditional fishing ground in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago when it
was chased and shot at by Chinese vessels.

This is
an extremely serious incident that violates Vietnam’s sovereignty
over Hoang Sa archipelago, threatens the lives of and causes damage to
Vietnamese fishermen, Nghi said.

It also seriously
breaches the principles of international law and the agreement on the
basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam
and China, and runs counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), the official added.

Vietnam demands China to investigate and strictly deal with
such a wrongful and inhumane action, and compensate Vietnamese fishermen
for their damage, Nghi said.

Also on March 25, a
Foreign Ministry representative met a Chinese Embassy representative in
Hanoi and handed a diplomatic note opposing the above-mentioned action
by the Chinese side.-VNA