MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' SPOKESPERSON MRS.
NGUYEN PHUONG NGA
ANSWERS QUESTION ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2010
Question: Please provide the update information of fishing vessel QNg 66478TS and its 9 fishermen captured by China on September 11th, 2010 in the waters of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago of Vietnam?
Answer:
"On September 11th, 2010, Vietnamese fishing vessel QNg 66478TS and its nine member crew were seized by China in the waters of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago of Vietnam. Upon receiving the news of the capture, the Vietnamese competent authorities conducted investigation and confirmed the vessel and fishermen were from Quang Ngai province and that they were engaging in normal fishing activities in the waters of Vietnamese Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, equipped with regular fishing gears as nets, lamps, etc...
Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly communicated with the Chinese side on this issue at various levels in Hanoi and Beijing, including four Deputy Foreign Ministerial meetings with Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, one note to the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, stating the seizure of fishing vessels and fishermen while they were fishing in waters of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago of Vietnam is an infringement of the sovereignty and sovereignty right of Vietnam; requesting the Chinese side to immediately and unconditionally release vessel QNg 66478TS and the fishermen.
On October 9th, the Chinese side informed it had decided to release vessel QNg 66478TS. On October 11th afternoon, the Chinese side informed 9 fishermen and the boat had departed at 13.00 hours of the same day.
On October 13th morning, upon learning that vessel QNg 66478TS and the nine fishermen had not arrived home, the Foreign Ministry had another meeting with the Chinese Embassy and requested the Chinese side to coorperate in the search for the Vietnamese vessel and fishermen as well as to verify if vessel QNg 66478TS had before its release been provided with sufficient fuel and equipment necessary to ensure the safety of fishing vessels and fishermen.
On October 13th evening, a representative from the Chinese Embassy informed the Foreign Ministry that when it came to decision to release the Vietnamese boat and fishermen, China's responsibility was to make sure of their safety, thus the Chinese side had provided sufficient fuel and equipment needed for the fishing vessel before its release; at 13.00 hours on October 11th, vessel QNg 66478TS had left for home; the vessel had turned back later with a request for additional supply of fuel, which was met by the Chinese side. The Chinese side had advised the fishermen to hold on their departure for a few more days in the wake of a tropical storm, but the fishermen decided to leave immediately after signing a waiver of Chinese responsibility. On October 11th evening, the vessel and fishermen had re-departed. The representative of the Chinese Embassy said they had reported to their country the representations of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and would inform the Chinese relevant agencies to colaborate in searching for the Vietnamese vessel and fishermen.
On October 14th, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry sent a note to the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam to restate its request that the Chinese coordinates in search for vessel QNg 66478TS and the 9 fishermen and promptly informs the Vietnamese side of further developments when they unveil.