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March 23, 2012

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China rejects claim over illegal fishermen

CHINA said yesterday that it had detained 21 Vietnamese for illegal fishing around the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, rejecting Vietnam's claim that they were held in its waters.

"Recently, many Vietnamese fishing boats entered the waters around the Xisha Islands for illegal fishing. Unable to drive them out, relevant Chinese authorities investigated and dealt with two Vietnamese boats and 21 fishermen in accordance with the law," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

"China has irrefutable sovereignty over the Xisha Islands, and there is no dispute over this. Vietnamese fishing activities infringe on China's sovereignty and maritime rights," he told a daily news briefing.

"The relevant actions by Chinese authorities are completely proper, law enforcement actions. We hope that Vietnam takes effective measures to earnestly manage and educate its fishermen and stop their invasive fishing," he told reporters.

Vietnam said earlier the fishermen had been detained in its waters and demanded China release them unconditionally. Its foreign ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said it was China that had violated Vietnam's sovereignty. He said: "A representative from Vietnam's Foreign Affairs Ministry has met with the Chinese embassy to give them a diplomatic note outlining Vietnam's position, and will continue the fight to resolve this matter and protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese fishermen."



 

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