A Chinese ship rammed a Vietnamese fishing boat operating in the Paracel Islands, Vietnamese state media reported Friday, in what might be the first case of China implementing its unilateral fishing restriction in parts of the South China Sea versus vessels of another country.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) paper reported that Wednesday’s occurrence occurred near Lincoln Island, a rock in the Paracels that is inhabited by China however declared by both China and Vietnam.

The boat’s captain informed Vietnamese authorities in main Quang Ngai province that a Chinese ship numbered 4006 chased after and after that rammed his boat, requiring all of its 16 team to jump overboard.

After the Chinese took some team back to pump water out of their listing boat, the Chinese took one ton of fish, a global placing system, and other equipment worth in overall 500 million Vietnamese dong ($21,000), Tuoi Tre reported.

It stated the Chinese team kicked and beat the 42- year-old Vietnamese captain, recognized as Nguyen Loc, when he declined to sign a file for them. They then left.

The Vietnamese handled to go back to coast with assistance from other Vietnamese anglers, the report stated.

Lincoln Island is approximately 25 nautical miles southeast of Woody Island, China’s biggest military base in the Paracels and among China’s main administrative centers in the South China Sea.

Satellite images shows a variety of Chinese Coast Guard ships in its harbor, however it’s unidentified which if any repelled the Vietnamese fishing boat.

Vietnamese vessel sunk in earlier occurrence

It’s the second time in little more than 2 months that a Vietnamese fishing vessel has actually come off even worse for wear with a Chinese ship.

Vietnam and China traded barbs over the sinking of a Vietnamese vessel in a conflict with a China Coast Guard ship on April 2.

Vietnam stated then that China had “threatened the lives and damaged the property and legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.” China declared the Vietnamese vessel had actually rammed the Chinese ship and sunk itself.

The most recent occurrence took location throughout a Chinese maritime police campaign, focused on stopping anglers from operating in parts of the South China Sea that China declares jurisdiction over.

China revealed its yearly summer season fishing restriction on May 1. It prohibits fishing activity in the South China Sea north of the 12 th parallel, which includes the disputed Paracels area.

Both Vietnam and the Philippines have actually knocked the restriction that China claims is for preservation functions. Vietnam on Might 20 stated it would not adhere to it.

In the past, China has actually not imposed the fishing restriction on vessels from other countries.

This year, nevertheless, China’s Ministry of Farming and Rural Affairs and China’s Coast Guard have actually signified a harder technique and called their unilaterally stated restriction, “Flashing Sword 2020.”

Vietnam is amongst the countries that object to China’s sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, which likewise overlap with those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Since of its efforts to assert control over contested locations,

China has actually dealt with growing criticism in the area.

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