Vietnamese fishermen call for action against China

By Khanh Vu
HANOI, July 30 (Reuters) - A Vietnamese fishermen's group
has called on the government to take stronger measures for the
removal of a Chinese oil survey vessel that Vietnam accuses of
violating its sovereignty in the South China Sea.
Vietnamese and Chinese ships have been in a weeks-old
standoff near an offshore oil block, the latest confrontation in
waters that are a potential global flashpoint as the United
States challenges China's sweeping maritime claims.
The busy waterway will be high on the agenda this week as
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
meet in Bangkok with foreign ministers from China, the United
States and other powers.
Vietnam has accused Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8
and its escorts of conducting illegal activities in Vietnam's
exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and demanded that
China remove all of the ships. China in turn demanded that Vietnam "respect China's
sovereign rights".
The Vietnam Fisheries Society said it requested "the
authorities of Vietnam to protest more strongly against China's
activities...and demand that China immediately withdraw the
Haiyang Dizhi 8 from Vietnamese waters."
The group posted the statement, dated July 29, on its
website on Tuesday. It said it had also been sent to the foreign
ministry, the defence ministry and other government agencies.
Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately
respond to an emailed request for comment. China's foreign
ministry did not respond immediately.
"The Vietnam Fisheries Society strongly opposes the Chinese
side's activities that seriously violate Vietnam's sovereignty
and Vietnamese laws, affecting the fishing activities of
Vietnamese fishermen in Vietnamese waters," it said.
On July 20, the U.S. State Department said it was concerned
by reports of China's interference with oil and gas activities
in the South China Sea, including Vietnam's long-standing
exploration and production activities. In response, China's foreign ministry described the U.S.
comments as slanderous.
A recent spate of articles in Vietnam's tightly controlled
media has condemned Chinese activities as provocative and
unacceptable. Social media users have also called on the
government to launch a lawsuit against China.
In 2014, drilling by a Chinese vessel off Vietnam triggered
boat rammings by both sides and anti-China riots in Vietnam.
China subsequently withdrew the oil rig.
The South China Sea is a vital route for ships carrying more
than $3 trillion in trade every year. The Philippines, Malaysia,
Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims to parts of it.

(Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Clarence Fernandez)