South China Sea Dispute Heats Up Again As Chinese Ship Rams Vietnamese Boat

For the second time this year, a Chinese ship has rammed a Vietnamese fishing boat operating in the Paracel Islands, according to Vietnamese state media. The Friday incident appears to be a case of China enforcing a fishing ban that it unilaterally imposed on May 1.

The annual ban prohibits fishing activity in the South China Sea in the disputed region north of the 12th parallel. China claims the ban is for reasons of “conservation.” On May 20, Vietnam announced it would not comply with the ban. The Philippines have also denounced the ban.

The action by China may be an example of the Communist country’s intent to take a firmer stand on the ban that they call “Flashing Sword 2020.”

The first ramming incident occurred on April 2, with China making claims that the Vietnamese boat rammed the presumably larger Chinese Coast Guard vessel that resulted in a self-imposed sinking. Vietnam said at the time that China had “threatened the lives and damaged the property and legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.”

Radio Free Asia quoted the Tuổi Trẻ , a major daily newspaper in Vietnam, on the latest incident that occurred near a rock in the Paracels known as Lincoln Island. It is occupied by China but claimed by both countries.

https://www.ibtimes.com/south-china-sea-dispute-heats-again-chinese-ship-rams-vietnamese-boat-2993921