Relentless blows by metal sticks: Vietnamese fishermen recount assault by Chinese forces near Paracel Islands

By Pham Linh   October 3, 2024 | 07:01 am PT
Relentless blows by metal sticks: Vietnamese fishermen recount assault by Chinese forces near Paracel Islands
Border guards bring injured fishermen attacked by Chinese forces to hospital for medical treatment as they reached Sa Ky Port, Quang Ngai Province, Sept. 29, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Van Toan
Nguyen Thanh Bien, captain of a Vietnamese fishing vessel, remembered vividly the harrowing attack by Chinese forces near the Paracel Islands on Sept. 29, which left one of his crewmembers with broken limbs and himself unconscious.

"I’ve been a captain for over 10 years and have faced Chinese vessels several times, but this time they were very violent, using metal sticks to beat us brutally," said Bien.

The 40-year-old and his crew members are still receiving treatment for injuries days after the assault, which lasted four hours and involved strong blows of metal sticks.

Bien, along with nine others, had set out from Sa Ky Port in central Quang Ngai Province on Sept. 13 to fish near the Paracel Islands (Hoang Sa). After two weeks, they had captured four tons of fish.

On the morning of Sept. 29, as they were about 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) from Chim Yen Island, a Chinese vessel approached at high speed. After an hour-long chase, Bien identified the vessel as numbered 301.

Nguyen Thanh Bien recalls the moment his vessel was attacked by Chinese ones at sea. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Linh

Nguyen Thanh Bien recalls the moment his vessel was attacked by Chinese forces near Vietnam's Paracel Islands. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Linh

The Chinese vessel then deployed two smaller boats to flank Bien's ship, while it moved ahead to block their escape. Despite Bien's evasive maneuvers, a second Chinese vessel, numbered 101, soon arrived to assist in surrounding the Vietnamese vessel.

As the situation escalated, the crew divided to attempt an escape. However, around 9 a.m., approximately 40 people from the Chinese vessels boarded Bien's ship. The fishermen, unarmed, were assaulted.

Huynh Tien Cong, 47, was one of the first to be beaten, suffering broken arm and leg bones from relentless blows delivered by metal sticks.

"They rushed in and brutally beat me on my arms and legs with metal stick around one meter long. I could do nothing but endure the blows," Cong recalled.

Vo Van Thi, 44, tried to shield Cong but was also beaten, sustaining bruises on his thighs and back.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew, including Nguyen Thuong, 34, were cornered and beaten.

Bien was knocked unconscious in the cabin. Thuong begged the attackers to let him administer CPR to Bien, but they initially refused.

Nguyen Thuong has injuries on his left arm. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Linh

Nguyen Thuong has injuries on his left arm after an attack by Chinese forces against his fishing vessel. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Linh

The attackers then used sheets to cover the fishermen's heads. They then allowed medical workers to check on Bien's condition, then allowed Thuong and another person to bring Bien to the back for CPR. They then proceeded to ransack the vessel, stealing over four tons of fish and fishing equipment worth more than VND310 million ($12,523).

"They left us nothing but a tracker so we could return to shore," Thuong said.

By 1 p.m., the people from the Chinese vessels ordered the Vietnamese fishermen to head back to land.

Bien, having regained consciousness, managed to contact people on land.

While still 50 nautical miles from shore, they were met by coast guards and received medical assistance. The vessel docked at Sa Ky Port that night, and four crew members, including the severely injured Cong, were rushed to hospitals.

The fishermen, like their colleagues in the fishing communities in Ganh Ca Village, who usually sail around the Paracel Islands, have long been subjected to harassment by foreign vessels. Bien and Thuong both recalled previous confrontations, including a 2009 incident when their vessel was seized, and they were detained on Hainan Island for 12 days, requiring a ransom of VND140 million for their release.

But the level of violence from Chinese vessels is escalating, the fishermen said.

On Wednesday, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Chinese forces' actions, calling the assault a severe violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, as well as international law. The ministry demanded that China investigate the incident and ensure such actions are not repeated.

The Paracel Islands have been under illegal Chinese occupation since 1974. Vietnam has multiple times asserted that it has full legal basis and historical evidence to establish sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands in the East Sea in accordance with international law.

 
 
go to top