Vietnam lodges protest with China over escalating maritime attacks The Vietnam Foreign Ministry today summoned a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to protest China’s acts of threats and attacks against Vietnamese fishing boats in the East Sea. The protest was lodged in the wake of several incidents, the most recent of which was the sinking of a 10-man fishing vessel by Chinese forces.   Vietnamese fishing boats near China’s illegal drilling rig. Since early May, many fishing boats of Vietnam have been both threatened and attacked by Chinese vessels, causing damage to property. More seriously, Chinese forces took actions that caused injuries and threatened the lives of Vietnamese fishermen. On May 7, a fishing vessel out of Quang Ngai Province with a crew of 16 was attacked by a Chinese ship with gunfire, water cannons and solid projectiles. The incident took place about 10 nautical miles from Linh Con Island in the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago of Vietnam. Following that, a ship of the Chinese fishing administration force intentionally rammed the Vietnamese boat, causing damage estimated at VND890 million (over $40,000). At 11pm on May 16, another Quang Ngai fishing boat was forcefully boarded by the crew of a Chinese fishery administration vessel near Phu Lam Island in the Hoang Sa Archipelago. The Chinese functional forces smashed property in the boat and seriously injured two fishermen, Nguyen Huyen Le Anh and Nguyen Tan Hai. On May 17, another Quang Ngai fishing vessel, the QNg 96011 TS, with a 13 man crew, was commandeered by a Chinese ship when it was 31 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island of the Hoang Sa Archipelago. The Chinese helped themselves to some equipment and nets worth about $2,500. Most recently, at 4pm on Monday, a 10-man fishing boat from Da Nang, the DNa 90152 TS, was sunk after being attacked by a Chinese ship in the traditional fishing ground of Hoang Sa Archipelago of Vietnam. The 10 fishermen were rescued by the Vietnam Coast Guard. The Foreign Ministry spokesman – Mr. Le Hai Binh - complained that the actions of the Chinese side had violated the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Vietnam in the East Sea, contrary to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), making the situation in the East Sea more complicated. "Once again, Vietnam demands that China put an end to its inhumane acts, which have caused serious damage to life, property and the legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen, and to respect the international law and severely punish those involved in the attacks, to not repeat the same actions and pay compensation for Vietnamese fishermen," Binh said. Tran Cham, VietNamNet Bridge