VietNamNet Bridge – Colonel Le Thanh Van - Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of Navy Region 3 - at a meeting held by the Navy Region 3 on December 16, said China was trying to create new fishing areas in the East Sea (South China Sea).

Vietnam's marine sovereignty

9,000 Chinese fishing vessels entered the East Sea in August 2015.

Colonel Le Thanh Van said that in 2015, the situation in the waters of the Navy Region 3 was complicated.

Specifically, China strengthened military activities such as training, reconnaissance patrols and maneuvers at sea to show of force, intimidate and deter the countries involved in maritime disputes with China.

China increased surveillance patrols to support its marine exploitation activities, including  pursuing, using water cannons, demolishing, seizing fishing equipment, and even beating Vietnamese fishermen in an attempt to prevent them from going out to sea for fishing.

In addition, China each year releases notices on the area that is banned from fishing from 12 degrees north latitude, and frequently sends a large number of Chinese fishing vessels to the waters of Vietnam. Sometimes Chinese fishing vessels were only 45 nautical miles from Vietnam’s Ly Son Island, aiming to creating new fishing areas of China.

China creates fishing areas to cover East Sea

Dr. Vo Van Trac, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Fisheries Association, talks more about China’s recent actions against Vietnamese fishermen in the East Sea.

- The international media has recorded evidence that Chinese fishermen are devastating coral reefs and overexploited fishery resources in Truong Sa Archipelago (Spratlys Islands). What do you think about this?

I already know about the information, but we need to investigate further for clarification and verification. If it is correct, then China is infringing Vietnam’s sovereignty. They are destroying the marine environment in an extremely serious manner.

- In recent years, China has taken increasingly brazen actions against Vietnamese fishermen in the East Sea. What is the view of the Vietnam Fisheries Association?

Recently, the association received some information from fishermen on China’s strengthening of surveillance patrols to protect and support the exploitation of marine economy, including the pursuing, using water cannons, demolishing, seizing fishing equipment, even beating Vietnamese fishermen in an attempt to prevent them from going out to sea for fishing.

China’s actions are illegal, brutal and inhuman, infringing on Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty. China ought to have helped Vietnamese and Chinese fishermen to safely fish together or rescue fishermen in distress but China harassed Vietnamese fishermen fishing in the legal waters.

We strongly oppose China’s acts.

- How do the acts of Chinese forces and fishermen influence Vietnamese fishermen?

Most recently, in mid-November 2015, hundreds of ships with Chinese characters destroyed fishing nets of fishing boats of fishermen in Da Nang in the waters of Vietnam. Although the Vietnam law enforcement forces signaled that this is the area with fishing nets, the Chinese ships kept passing, damaging nets of fishermen. The incident caused damage of up to VND300 million ($15,000).

The Chinese fishing vessels, guarded by Chinese law enforcement forces, chased and attacked our fishermen in the East Sea.

This not only caused great impact on catches of fishermen but also led them to losses. Many fishermen were also beaten and injured.

- What is the intention behind these acts?

These acts have taken place for many years but in recent years, they became more serious.

We need to understand the nature and objectives of China. They always claim that they take such actions against Vietnamese fishermen to protect their fishery resources.

But in fact, the reason is to occupy the entire East Sea. In my opinion, China not only aims to create new fishing areas but monopoly the East Sea.

- What has the Vietnam Fisheries Association done to protect the fishermen?

After receiving reports of fishermen, or getting information through the media, the association has released official documents to protest China's actions and ask China to compensate for damages caused to our fishermen.

In addition, we have told fishermen to comply with legal regulations at sea. This is very important. Fishermen need to group up to support each other.

I also suggest that the Vietnam law enforcement forces should take more drastic actions in the East Sea to protect and support our fishermen.

Translated from Tien Phong/Tuoitre