Da Nang plans to display the remains of a fishing boat sunk by Chinese vessels during the illegal deployment of a giant oil rig in Vietnamese waters.

Following recent approval by the city's authorities, boat DNA 90152 TS will be displayed near the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Exhibition House, which is under construction on Hoang Sa Street.

In 1974, China invaded the Hoang Sa Archipelago and fought a brief but bloody naval battle with forces of USA-backed Republic of Viet Nam. China has illegally occupied the islands ever since, a situation decried as criminal by united Viet Nam, which has never relinquished its sovereignty.

On May 26, 2014, a number of Vietnamese fishing boats operating near the islands were surrounded by roughly 40 Chinese ships.

The boats were just 14 nautical miles from Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig which had been illegally deployed in the area over which Viet Nam claims its sovereignty, since early that month.

During the confrontation that ensued, a Chinese fishing boat rammed and sank vessel DNA 90152 TS sending its crew of 10 men diving into the waters. Chinese boats deliberately tried to prevent other Vietnamese vessels from rescuing their fellow fishermen, to no avail.

The boat’s owner, Mrs Huynh Thi Nhu Hoa, has donated the remains of her vessel to the Da Nang authorities in the hopes that it would be preserved and displayed as evidence of China's aggression.

(Source: VnExpress/International/ DA NANG Today)