In a first, Vietnam seizes intruding Chinese vessel

Vietnam's coast guard often warns and chases Chinese fishing boats out of its waters but rarely seizes them.

Vietnam’s coast guard in a rare move has seized a Chinese vessel for allegedly intruding in its waters.

The Thanh Nien newspaper reported on Monday that the vessel has been towed to the northern port city of Hai Phong, and that the ship, its captain and two sailors, all Chinese, are under the supervision of Vietnamese authorities.

Disguised as a fishing boat

The newspaper says the vessel was disguised as a fishing boat and was carrying 1,00,000 litres of diesel oil near Bach Long Vi island in the Gulf of Tonkin on Thursday.

The captain told authorities the fuel was to be sold to Chinese fishing boats operating in the area.

This is the first time

Vietnam’s coast guard often warns and chases Chinese fishing boats out of its waters but rarely seizes them.