Province sends SOS after Chinese threat at sea

Phu Yen's dispatch that was sent to the Foreign Ministry on June 2

Photo: Thanh Nien

Phu Yen has sent an emergency dispatch to the Foreign Ministry seeking help after four fishing boats based in the northern province were threatened by Chinese vessels Wednesday.

Three Chinese naval ships fired four shots near PY92305 TS owned by Le Van Giup, 49, of Tuy Hoa city and three other boats while they were operating in Vietnamese territorial waters, the dispatch said.

It described the location of the incident as being 8o 56’ 23'' north and 112o 45’ 31'' east, or just 15 nautical miles southeast off Da Dong Island in the Truong Sa (Spratlys) Archipelago. 

Several foreign navies, especially that of China, are strengthening their activities and organizing patrols in Vietnamese waters, claiming sovereignty over them.

They threaten Vietnamese fishing boats and prevent their operations, with a view to discouraging them from operating in their traditional areas, the dispatch said.

Phu Yen wants the Foreign Ministry to intervene with China and the other countries to protect the interests of its fishermen and at the same time safeguard the country’s sovereignty.

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