Demanding China to unconditionally return Vietnamese fishing boat

Vietnam has demanded that China unconditionally return fishing boat QB93694TS after Beijing seized the boat and its fishermen in the East Sea.

Vietnamese fishermen's fishing boats catch seafood in the Hoang Sa waters. Photo: Tri Tin

The Vietnamese Embassy in China said that on June 19, the Chinese Coast Guard announced the arrest of 17 Vietnamese fishermen and two Quang Binh fishing boats, QB93694TS and QB93840TS.

At a regular press conference today, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said that after receiving the above information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Vietnamese Embassy in China to conduct consular visits to the fishermen. Vietnam is also working closely with local agencies and requesting China to release these fishermen.

Currently, all 17 fishermen and fishing boat QB93840TS have returned to Vietnam safely.

The Vietnamese Embassy in China continues to request China to unconditionally return fishing boat QB93694TS.

Regarding the information that fishermen were forced by China to sign a document recognizing China's sovereignty in the East Sea, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is verifying it to have an appropriate response.

According to VNE