China is conducting a unilateral fishing ban in a part of the East Sea (Bien Dong) which includes Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa waters and some sections of the Tonkin Gulf.  The ban is being applied from 16 May to 1 August.  To make the situation more intense, China is also carrying out a military exercise in an area that covers the Hoang Sa islands between 5 and 11 July.

Fishermen in the central region, and the country as a whole, are expressing their strong discontent with China’s military drill.

Ice being loaded onto a local fishing boat

In recent days at Da Nang’s Tho Quang fishing wharf, many fishermen from the city and other central coastal localities have been being busy preparing the necessary provisions for their upcoming offshore fishing trips to Viet Nam’s territorial waters.

Mr Vo Van To, the owner of a fishing boat from Binh Dinh Province which was anchored at the wharf, determinedly said, “I and the other fishermen in the region will continue our offshore fishing trips to earn a living to support our families as well as to protect the country’s sacred sovereignty over its sea and islands, regardless of China’s illegal moves”. 

He added that supplies of fuel, food, fresh water and ice were being loaded onto his boat in preparation for his upcoming trip to the Hoang Sa waters. 

Fisherman Le Van Sang from Hai Chau District, the owner and captain of the central region’s largest fisheries support ship, stressed the need for Vietnamese fishermen to head out to sea together in groups in order to counter any threats by Chinese vessels.   He also asked relevant government agencies to voice their strong protest at China’s illegal moves and strongly support the Vietnamese fishermen at sea.

The authorised Chairman of the municipal Fisheries Association, Mr Tran Van Linh, emphasised, “China’s military exercise seriously infringes Viet Nam’s legitimate sovereignty over its territorial waters, and negatively affects maritime security in the East Sea and the fishing activities of Vietnamese fishermen in their traditional fishing grounds.  The Association vehemently opposes China’s illegal move”.

He also urged Viet Nam’s law enforcement forces to increase their presence at sea to help the Vietnamese fishermen avoid any possible attacks from Chinese vessels.