According to Vietnamese state media, Chinese personnel boarded a Vietnamese fishing vessel on September 29, assaulted the crew, and confiscated their equipment.
The attack left 10 fishermen injured, with four suffering serious wounds. The Vietnamese crew, operating near the Paracels, reported that they were pursued by two Chinese ships identified as Sansha Zhifa 101 and Sansha Zhifa 301. The fishermen were beaten with iron pipes, and their gear was seized.
Nguyen Thanh Bien, the captain of the attacked vessel, said his crew tried to flee but were cornered and assaulted by around 40 people from the Chinese vessels. One of the injured crew members, Nguyen Thuong, described the violence as relentless, stating that they were forced to the front of the boat and covered with a tarp after the attack.
Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that China respect Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands and refrain from similar actions in the future. The ministry has communicated these concerns to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, calling for an immediate investigation and the return of confiscated property.
In contrast, China's Foreign Affairs Ministry claimed the Vietnamese boats were fishing illegally and that their response was "professional and restrained." They denied any injuries occurred during the incident.
Experts in the region, however, warn that China's growing aggression in the South China Sea is becoming more violent, with concerns that these encounters could escalate further.
Source: Reuters