Vietnam advocates cooperating with China to maintain peace and stability in the Tonkin Gulf
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' SPOKESMAN - MR. LE DZUNG
ANSWERS QUESTION ON 17th JANUARY 2008
ANSWERS QUESTION ON 17th JANUARY 2008
In response to reporters’ question on Vietnam’s stance to the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman’s announcement on January 17, 2008 saying that “On January 07, 2008, Hainan province-owned fishing vessels were robbed by Vietnamese armed ships while operating as usual in the common fishing waters in the Tonkin Gulf, causing economic losses”, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Mr. Le Dung, stated:
Since Vietnam and China signed the Tonkin Gulf Demarcation Agreement and the Tonkin Gulf Fishery Cooperation Agreement, the situation in the Tonkin Gulf has been considerably improved. Vietnamese and Chinese navy forces have conducted four joint patrols in the Tonkin Gulf. The two sides have also jointly surveyed marine resources in the area. Fishing activities by the two countries’ fishermen in the Tonkin Gulf common fishing waters have been carried out smoothly. This is the shared achievements of the implementation of the two agreements.
Regarding the January 07, 2008 incident, right after receiving information from China, Vietnamese authorised agencies have immediately launched investigations to verify the information.
According to initial findings, we have learnt that on January 07, 2008, in the area about 32 nautical miles to the southwest of Bach Long Vy Island (or 3 nautical miles to the west of the demarcation line), there was a clash among four Chinese and three Vietnamese fishing vessels because their fishing net sets got intertwined. After the fishermen had successfully separated their sets, all these vessels resumed their normal fishing activities. There was no Vietnamese armed ship attacking Chinese fishing vessels.
Vietnam’s competent agencies are still investigating into this incident and have asked the Chinese side to provide more information for further verification. Vietnam consistently pursues the policy of cooperating with China in handling all arising matters to maintain peace and stability in the Tonkin Gulf for the interests of the two peoples.
Since Vietnam and China signed the Tonkin Gulf Demarcation Agreement and the Tonkin Gulf Fishery Cooperation Agreement, the situation in the Tonkin Gulf has been considerably improved. Vietnamese and Chinese navy forces have conducted four joint patrols in the Tonkin Gulf. The two sides have also jointly surveyed marine resources in the area. Fishing activities by the two countries’ fishermen in the Tonkin Gulf common fishing waters have been carried out smoothly. This is the shared achievements of the implementation of the two agreements.
Regarding the January 07, 2008 incident, right after receiving information from China, Vietnamese authorised agencies have immediately launched investigations to verify the information.
According to initial findings, we have learnt that on January 07, 2008, in the area about 32 nautical miles to the southwest of Bach Long Vy Island (or 3 nautical miles to the west of the demarcation line), there was a clash among four Chinese and three Vietnamese fishing vessels because their fishing net sets got intertwined. After the fishermen had successfully separated their sets, all these vessels resumed their normal fishing activities. There was no Vietnamese armed ship attacking Chinese fishing vessels.
Vietnam’s competent agencies are still investigating into this incident and have asked the Chinese side to provide more information for further verification. Vietnam consistently pursues the policy of cooperating with China in handling all arising matters to maintain peace and stability in the Tonkin Gulf for the interests of the two peoples.
Back
Top page
Print
Email
|