Following its implementation of a unilateral fishing ban in the East Sea between 16 May and 1 August, China is conducting more illegal activities in Viet Nam’s territorial waters.

In particular, China is sending more warships, maritime surveillance ships and helicopters to hinder Vietnamese fishermen while they are fishing in the waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago.  In the meantime, a large number of Chinese fishing vessels are illegally operating in the waters between 40 and 50 nautical miles off the coast of Da Nang. China’s wrongful moves go against the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, flagrantly violating Viet Nam’s territorial sovereignty as well as impeding the legal fishing activities of Vietnamese offshore fishing vessels.

Local fishermen are unhappy about China’s illegal acts

The owner of vessel DNa 90235TS from the city, Mr Truong Van Hay, said that the fishing activities of local fishing boats in Viet Nam’s territorial waters had been stopped by Chinese warships and maritime surveillance ships.

As an example, on 26 and 27 May the vessels DNa 90297TS and DNa 90370TS from Thanh Khe District were hindered by China’s maritime surveillance ship 863 whilst fishing at latitude 16°4’N, longitude 109°3’E, which is about 80 nautical miles from the north-east Da Nang coast.  Also, the vessel QNg 94401TS from Quang Ngai Province was chased away by 2 Chinese warships whilst conducting fishing activities in the waters at latitude 17°N, longitude 109°2’E.

Unloading fish from a vessel

In reality, the wooden, small-capacity Vietnamese fishing vessels cannot confront the many large Chinese ships, which include warships and maritime surveillance boats.

In the context of the current situation, the Da Nang Fisheries Society will give top priority to encouraging local fishermen to comply with the 1982 UN Convention as well as not to fish in the waters of other countries.  Special attention will be paid to implementing the State’s policies, and those of the city concerning the effective support of local fishermen.