VietNamNet Bridge – On Friday China raised the number of ships to protect the HD-981 rig that is anchored illegally in Vietnam's waters from 99 to 126 units, mainly iron fishing ships, said Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, Deputy Director of the Fishery Control Department.

A ship of the China Coast Guard in Vietnam's waters. Photo: VNA

According to Trung, Chinese iron fishing ships intentionally crashed into wood fishing boats of Vietnam that caught fish in the fishing ground of Vietnam, near the Chinese illegal rig.

Chinese ships also approached, surrounded and attacked the vessels of the Vietnamese law enforcement forces by water cannons.

Being attacked, two fishing boats and one vessel of the fishery control agency of Vietnam were damaged. These vessels have been repaired and back to operation.

On Friday Vietnam maintained the same number of ships as the previous day in the area where China deploys its illegal rig. The ships of the law enforcement forces also supported Vietnamese fishing vessels to operate in the fishing ground of Vietnam around the rig.

Bao Han