Vietnam to Arm Fishery Surveillance Ships After Standoff With China

[Viet]

FILE - A Chinese ship (L) shoots a water cannon at a Vietnamese vessel (R) while a Chinese Coast Guard ship (C) sails alongside in the South China Sea, off Vietnam's coast.



Tra Mi
August 01, 2014 3:46 PM

Vietnam says all ships under the management of its Fisheries Surveillance Force will be equipped with weapons following a tense standoff with China over a disputed oil rig.

According to a government decree published by state media Friday, ships will be outfitted with machine guns starting September 15. Maritime force members will be equipped with handguns and machine guns while patrolling in the South China Sea.

Vietnamese and Chinese ships clashed several times during the standoff over the oil rig near the Paracel Islands. Hanoi says several of its fishing vessels were damaged and one sank after being rammed by Chinese vessels. Beijing said Vietnamese ships were the aggressors.

Beijing has not yet commented on the plan to arm Vietnamese fishing surveillance ships.

In an interview with VOA's Vietnamese service Friday, the captain of a Vietnamese fishing vessel, Le Van Xinh, said fishermen welcome the new decree in hopes of better protection.

“Whatever Vietnam is equipping for its maritime enforcement forces, it’s nothing compared to China; however, it’s rather than nothing. Both governments must take actions to solve the disputes since fishermen want to be safe and secure while operating at sea, not only to support our families but also to contribute products to our society. The more our government could protect us, the better for us; there’s nothing we could do about it," said Xinh.

Xinh, whose ship operates in waters near the Paracel Islands, says Vietnamese fishermen have vowed to defy China’s threats and keep operating in disputed waters. He says since China removed its rig, there have been no known reports of incidents or attacks in the area.


Vietnam to Arm Fishery Surveillance Ships After Standoff With China

 

[dichoi]

It is already armed for small fishery surveillance boat.

The force is equipped with uniforms, flags, ID cards, canoes. More than ten ships are modernly-equipped. The smallest is 38 meter long, 7.8 meter wide and speed can reach to 18 nautical mile. Each fishery surveillance boat is equipped with two guns 12 cups 7. The staff are professionally trained in handling situations in which foreign vessels violates territorial waters of Vietnam.

 

[dlclong]

Waiting for you, when you are beaten with weapons, do not cry to others again

 

[Viet]

Waiting for you, when you are beaten with weapons, do not cry to others again

don´t come to our waters, otherwise guns will speak.

 

[terranMarine]

don´t come to our waters, otherwise guns will speak.

That's what you guys said earlier too with your missiles blowing us up, guess not much happened

 

[cnleio]

OKay, from now on there's no fish boats in disputed waters, only armed patrolling boats from Vietnam.

This is a good news for the strong side, so many moving armed targets, China missile no eyes.

 

[Viet]

OKay, from now on there's no fish boats in disputed waters, only armed patrolling boats from Vietnam.

This is a good news for the strong side, so many moving armed targets, China missile no eyes.

are you drunken? or too much smog inhaled?
at least you should read the writings on ships before launching missiles and starting the war.

It is easy to spot: VN fisheries patrol vessels are white and coded with KN, while coast guard ships have blue color. they are all civil patrol vessels, not warships.

 

[pher]

good movie. We don't need to stick to no first shot anymore.

Next time just sink viets boat in sight, then blaming them for firing first . who knows

 

[cnleio]

are you drunken? or too much smog inhaled?
at least you should read the writings on ships before launching missiles and starting the war.

It is easy to spot: VN fisheries patrol vessels are white and coded with KN, while coast guard ships have blue color. they are all civil patrol vessels, not warships.

When they shoot bullets, it's a warship.

 

[TheFlyingPretzel]

When they shoot bullets, it's a warship.

Or a small fishing boat trying to defend itself. I guess it all comes down to the vantage point.

 

[eazzy]

Nice.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Nice ship, we shall capture it for reverse engineering

 

[terranMarine]

Nice ship, we shall capture it for reverse engineering

then patrol their waters unnoticed like a wolf inside a sheep's clothe

 

[Genesis]

If it were me I would do one of two things, either arm the vessels and never send them to actual hot spots or just armed but strict orders of never using it, or just simply not arming them.

Reason is a few machine guns or even missiles are not changing anything, it's not like the difference between China and Vietnam is these few guns.

I understand this move, if the objective is to show Vietnam is doing something, however, I doubt the government is stupid enough to actually fire, even China is waiting for others to fire the first shot, be foolish for Vietnam to fire the first shot.

So I doubt actual armed confrontation is the objective here.

 

[dichoi]

sea pirates is shouting loudly.