Vietnam expresses strong discontent and firmly opposes the aggressive actions of Chinese law enforcement forces in the incident involving the suppression, assault, and confiscation of assets belonging to Quang Ngai fishermen in the East Sea.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang.

"The actions of Chinese law enforcement forces have seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on October 2.

Hang's statement came after Chinese law enforcement forces on September 29 suppressed, assaulted, and confiscated the assets of Vietnamese fishermen aboard the fishing vessel QNg 95739 TS from Quang Ngai province, which was operating in the waters of Vietnam's Paracel Islands.

Hang noted that the behavior of Chinese law enforcement goes against the common understanding of senior leaders from both countries on better controlling and managing maritime disputes, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Vietnam is deeply concerned, discontented, and firmly opposes the aggressive behavior of Chinese law enforcement forces toward Vietnamese fishermen and fishing vessels operating in the Paracel Islands area of Vietnam, causing injuries, threatening lives, and damaging the property of Vietnamese fishermen," said the Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong diplomatic protest to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, vigorously opposing the actions of Chinese law enforcement and demanding that China fully respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, urgently investigate the incident, provide a report to Vietnam, and refrain from repeating such actions.

The Paracel Islands were forcibly occupied by China in 1974. Since July 2012, China has established the so-called "Sansha City," with its headquarters on Woody Island, to assert control over islands in the East Sea, including Vietnam's Paracel and Spratly Islands.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson has repeatedly affirmed that Vietnam has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, in accordance with international law.

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