Vietnamese Fishers Endure Daily Chinese Attacks
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- André Menras visited Lý Sơn Island and the Paracel Islands to interview families of Vietnamese fishermen attacked by Chinese vessels, gathering evidence for a documentary.
- Vietnamese fishermen in the South China Sea face capture, disappearances, attacks, deaths, and property seizures by Chinese vessels, with limited protection from the Vietnamese government.
- Vietnam’s government has condemned China’s unilateral fishing ban since 1999 and provided financial and technical support to its fishermen, yet has not effectively shielded them from Chinese aggression.
- China claims about 90% of the South China Sea, asserts historical rights, and accuses Vietnam of subsidizing illegal fishing while deploying militia fishermen and naval forces.
- Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance was established in January 2013, combining civilian and paramilitary actors to monitor fishing activities, but its effectiveness remains questioned.
- President Xi Jinping visited a fishing village in Hainan in April 2013 after a PLA Navy drill, while Vietnam’s President Trương Tấn Sang visited Lý Sơn island a few days later, underscoring diplomatic gestures amid tension.
- Paracel Islands were seized by China in January 1974 and remain under Chinese control, while Vietnam continues to assert sovereignty, fueling ongoing confrontations with Chinese vessels.
Why it matters: Vietnam’s fishing communities lose livelihoods and safety, while China reinforces its territorial claims through intimidation; the government’s failure to protect its fishers erodes public trust, fuels resentment, and undermines the credibility of Vietnam’s diplomatic stance, risking further escalation in the South China Sea.
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