Series of measures have been carried out to assist Vietnamese fishermen working on East Sea, including the provision of logistics and ship-repair services, rescue and channels of communications organized by administrative and coastguard units.

The actions from Vietnam reply the words announced by Chinese authorities that have created tensions after the government of China’s Hainan island said they would permit their forces to check, seize and expel any boats and ships entering maritime waters of the East Sea that China claims its sovereignty. China wrongly claims an area of around 80 percent of East Sea spanning from the coasts of Vietnam to the Philippines and down close to Malaysia.

Colonel Nguyen Quoc Binh, deputy chief of the coastguard unit of the central Da Nang City, confirmed that, “We always stand side by side with Vietnamese fishermen at sea especially when facing any trouble or obstacle.

“We always send forces offshore to prevent and stop Chinese ships illegally entering the maritime waters of Vietnam,” he added.

Le Van Truc, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee of the central Phu Yen Province, assured that, “We request our fishermen to report immediately any difficulty you face at sea via Icom system and our coastguard units will work out measures to protect you.”

Determination

To prove the effectiveness of the measures, Nguyen Van Thang – chairman of the People’s Council of Truong Sa District, Khanh Hoa Province – announced on Friday that an abundant amount of Vietnamese ships have been fishing in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Some others are still in shelters at the dock of Song Tu Tay Island to avoid Bopha Typhoon ravaging in parts of Truong Sa waters, he said.

At Song Tu Tay, Vietnam fishermen are also given necessary logistics services including fuel sales, ship repair, and provision of food and fresh water. Besides, the similar services can be supplied at the other island of Vietnam, Da Tay.

Fishermen Tran Quang Nguyen, an owner of a fishing ship in Phu Yen, admitted that, “Truong Sa island district has served as a firm support for us in the high seas. We are given not only logistics services but also rescue and healthcare timely.

“The coastguard units in Truong Sa usually dispatch forces to evict Chinese ships from illegally encroaching our waters. It helps us feel safe to work at sea.”

Fishermen realize that their refusal to go out to the sea means Vietnam lose maritime waters and islands.

The deputy chairman Truc has added that he had instructed the Phu Yen Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to offer adequate equipment for Vietnam’s fishery patrol ships. Truc also suggested fishermen to head offshore in effective formation as grouping in ‘mother’ ships and ‘children’ ships for mutual assistance at sea.

He proposed the central government of Vietnam to offer favorable loans for fishermen to build bigger and better ships in the coming time.

Only with loans with low interest rates, fishermen can benefit to build better ships, he confirmed.

Binh Dinh fishermen catch a tuna in Truong Sa waters (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

Tran Dinh Quynh, DARD director of Da Nang City, said proudly, “Fishermen in the city have earned biggest care and attention from local authorities recently. Besides giving training and insurance aid to fishermen, Da Nang has offered loans for fishermen to build big ships. Owner of a fishing ship with capacity of 400CV gets support of 500 million dongs.”

“In the coming time, we will help them build teams of big ships to go further offshore on longer trips,” he said. “It gives economic profits and helps defend our traditional maritime waters.”

Vietnam Fisheries Society (Vinafis) chairman Nguyen Viet Thang said his agency had sent official protest against China’s Hainan authorities for their decisions to harass Vietnamese ships on East Sea. Vinafis is also coordinating with local agencies including the coastguard units to set up channels of communications to protect fishermen.

“Going offshore, fishermen should go in groups for aiding one another in case of troubles,” he repeated.

“Fishermen trips to open sea are not only to earn money but also to assert our sovereignty over islands and waters,” Vinafis general secretary Tran Cao Muu. “So, protecting fishermen means defending the national sovereignty.”