Hanoi today demanded that Beijing adequately compensate fishermen whose fishing boat in Quang Ngai was sunk by a Chinese coast guard ship.

A fishing boat of Da Nang fishermen was also sunk by a Chinese ship in May 2014. Photo: Nguyen Dong.

On July 9, in an area 34 nautical miles east-southeast of Bong Bay Island, part of Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago, Vietnamese fishing boat numbered QNg 90479TS with 5 fishermen on board was chased and sunk by two Chinese coast guard ships numbered 46102 and 56103.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said Vietnam strongly condemns inhumane treatment, the use of force or threats to use force against Vietnamese fishermen, and demands that China investigate and punish the crew of two coast guard ships that intentionally rammed and sank a Vietnamese fishing boat, leaving the fishermen in life-threatening conditions.

"Vietnam demands that China respect international law, not repeat similar actions, and provide adequate compensation to Vietnamese fishermen," Mr. Le Hai Binh stated in a statement sent to the press today.

On July 11, a representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to hand over a diplomatic note of protest.

According to VNE