2019 Reed Bank incident

Last updated
2019 Reed Bank incident
Fishing Banca Gem-Ver's stern after Reed Bank incident.jpg
F/B Gem-Ver's truncated stern is evident in this image taken after the incident
DateJune 9, 2019;4 years ago (2019-06-09)
Time11:50 PM PST
Location Reed Bank, South China Sea
Coordinates 11°34.557′N116°49.888′E / 11.575950°N 116.831467°E / 11.575950; 116.831467
ParticipantsFlag of the Philippines.svgF/B Gem-Ver
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svgYuemaobinyu 42212
Flag of Vietnam.svgTGTG-90983-TS
OutcomeFilipino vessel sunk, 22 Filipino fishermen rescued by Vietnamese counterparts
InquiriesInvestigation initiated by Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority; joint Sino-Filipino investigation pending

The 2019 Reed Bank incident occurred when F/B Gem-Ver, a Philippine fishing boat anchored in Reed Bank in the South China Sea, sank after it was rammed by a Chinese vessel, Yuemaobinyu 42212, during the early morning hours of 9 June 2019. The stricken vessel's crew was later rescued by a Vietnamese fishing vessel.

Contents

An independent investigation by Philippine authorities later determined that the Chinese vessel involved in the incident failed to undertake measures to avoid colliding with the F/B Gem-Ver and abandoned the stricken boat's crew in violation of maritime laws.

Background

South China Sea location map.svg
Red pog.svg
F/B Gem-Ver
class=notpageimage|
Location of the F/B Gem-Ver at the time of the incident.

F/B Gem-Ver sailed from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, on 29 May 2019, with 22 crewmen led by captain Junel Insigne. [1]

The vessel was rammed and sunk on 9 June 2019 by another ship described as Chinese by the crew while anchored near Reed Bank in the South China Sea. The whole sea is claimed by China as its territory, while a 2016 arbitration ruling determined the area to be within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. [2]

The ship that rammed F/B Gem-Ver left the crew floating at sea. Two of the crewmen managed to reach TGTG-90983-TS, [3] a Vietnamese fishing vessel, after two hours of paddling; the rest of the crew were later rescued by this Vietnamese vessel, which sailed from Tiền Giang Province, Vietnam, in the southern Mekong Delta. [4] The Filipino crewmen were turned over to the Philippine Navy and were taken aboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz. All but one of the 22 crew members returned home to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, on 14 June 2019. A lone crewman was left behind to oversee the towing of the barely floating wreckage of their wooden boat back to its home port in San Jose. [1]

Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, stated that the incident was unprecedented; it was the first time that Chinese maritime assets "deliberately rammed, sank, and abandoned a Filipino fishing vessel in the West Philippine Sea (the name used by the Philippine government to refer to parts of the South China Sea)." He further added that the incident could prove to be a tipping point in Sino-Filipino relations in the South China Sea; if no satisfactory action is passed on the part of China, it could "herald a new phase in Philippine-China interaction in the West Philippine Sea: one where we (the Philippines) will be forced out of the West Philippine Sea." [5]

F/B Gem-Ver

F/B Gem-Ver is a Filipino wooden-hulled fishing "banca" owned and operated by Arlinda B. Dela Torre of San Roque, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. It is 19 metres (62 ft) in length with a beam of 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) and gross tonnage of 14.38. A diesel engine with a single screw powers it. The boat was built in 2000. [6]

Yuemaobinyu 42212

Yuemaobinyu 42212 (MMSI No. 412471286) is a Chinese steel-hulled fishing vessel operating from Guangdong Province, China. It is 44 metres (144 ft) in length and has a beam of 8 metres (26 ft). [7]

Investigation

Joint Philippine Coast Guard - Maritime Industry Authority investigation

Joint Philippine Coast Guard-Maritime Industry Authority report on the Recto (Reed) Bank incident PCG-Marina Report on Recto Bank Incident.pdf
Joint Philippine Coast Guard-Maritime Industry Authority report on the Recto (Reed) Bank incident

The crew believed that the ship that rammed their vessel was Chinese. Still, it was unable to provide the ship's bow number to the Philippine Coast Guard. [2] On 20 June 2019, the joint Philippine Coast Guard - Maritime Industry Authority investigation was completed. Its contents were made public on 6 July 2019. [8] Key points therein stated that:

Others

Though equipped with automatic identification system transponders, Yuemaobinyu 42212, the ship that sank the Filipino boat, was shown to have either had a problem with the equipment or had turned it off deliberately during the period from 27 April 2019 to 12 June 2019, and therefore could not be tracked immediately before or after the ramming incident. An Oceana Philippines representative stated that "going dark" was common practice for ships engaged in illegal fishing. [9]

Reactions

China

On 13 June 2019, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman pronounced the incident an "ordinary maritime accident." [10] The following day, the Chinese Embassy in Manila released a statement via Facebook claiming that a Chinese fishing boat, Yuemaobinyu 42212, "was berthed near Reed Bank when it was suddenly besieged by 7 or 8 Filipino fishing boats". In attempting to evade the Filipino boats, the Chinese vessel's lightning grid cable dragged into the Filipino boat's pilothouse, causing the boat to tilt and founder. [11] However, this Facebook post was later deleted. [12]

China released a revised statement on 18 June 2019, omitting the narrative that Yuemaobinyu 42212 had been besieged by 7 or 8 Filipino fishing boats. The statement referred to the incident as an "accidental collision" between fishing boats. It offered sympathies to the Filipino fishermen. [13]

In August 2019, Chen Shiqin, the President of the Guangdong Fishery Mutual Insurance Association, sent a letter to the Philippines apologizing for one of its member's ships sinking F/B Gem-Ver and subsequently abandoning its crew. [14] It was initially reported that the apology was accepted, but this was later refuted by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. [15]

Philippines

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on 12 June 2019 (Philippine Independence Day) condemned the sinking of F/B Gem-Ver. In particular, he denounced "the actions of the Chinese fishing vessel for immediately leaving the incident scene abandoning the 22 Filipino crewmen to the mercy of the elements", an action which he described as "cowardly." [16] Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. lodged a diplomatic protest regarding the incident with the People's Republic of China on the same day. [17]

Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad on 15 June stated that what happened to the Filipino fishing boat was "not an accident but a deliberate maneuver to ram the smaller vessel." [18] Philippine Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio also stated that it was "highly likely that a Chinese maritime militia vessel rammed the Filipino fishing vessel." [19] The People's Liberation Army 's maritime militia, estimated to field 300 vessels and 4000 personnel, is made up of civilian fishermen who receive military training and pay. Their boats are equipped with reinforced hulls for ramming other vessels, high-powered water hoses, and sophisticated communications gear. [20]

After days of silence, President Rodrigo Duterte made a statement on 17 June 2019 about the incident, stating that this was a "maritime incident." [21] For his part, F/B Gem-Ver captain Jonel Insigne declined to meet with the Philippine President; Insigne was described as "still too traumatized" by the incident to travel to the nation's capital. [22] Duterte later stated that he was allowing China to continue fishing in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. [23] This drew a disappointed reaction from the fishermen concerned, [24] so much so that even the wife of the Gem-Ver's captain stated that she would welcome Duterte's impeachment. [25]

After the Chinese sent a letter of apology for the incident to the Philippines in August 2019, [26] Philippine Justice Antonio Carpio emphasized that the author was in error when he stated that the incident occurred in the "waters of Reed Bank, Nansha Island Group." Nansha is the Chinese name for the Spratly Islands. Reed Bank is an entirely separate feature from any island in the Spratlys. [27]

United States

The United States Embassy in Manila stated on 14 June 2019, urging "all parties to refrain from using coercion and intimidation to assert their territorial and maritime claims." [28]

Vietnam

Vietnam released a statement on 20 June 2019, saying that its fishermen complied with international maritime laws when they rescued the distressed crew of the Filipino fishing boat. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and that Vietnam's vessels were discharging international obligations while operating at sea. [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montenegro Lines</span> Shipping company in the Philippines

Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc. (MSLI) is a Philippine domestic shipping line based at the Batangas International Port in Batangas City, Philippines. It operates passenger, cargo and RORO vessels to various destinations in the Philippines under the brands Montenegro Lines and Marina Ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial disputes in the South China Sea</span>

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve conflicting island and maritime claims in the region by several sovereign states, namely Brunei, the People's Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The disputes involve the islands, reefs, banks, and other features of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and various boundaries in the Gulf of Tonkin. The waters near the Indonesian Natuna Islands, which some regard as geographically part of the South China Sea, are disputed as well. Maritime disputes also extend beyond the South China Sea, as in the case of the Senkaku Islands and the Socotra Rock, which lie in the East China Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Philippines relations</span> Bilateral relations

The China–Philippines relations refer to the diplomatic and bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines. Relations between China and the Philippines have suffered due to the worsening South China Sea dispute. The current policy of the president of the Philippines aims for distancing relations between the Philippines and China to the benefit of the country's relationship with the United States, while the current policy of the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party aims for greater influence over the Philippines, and the region in general, while combating American influence.

The Scarborough Shoal standoff is a dispute between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China over the Scarborough Shoal. Tensions began on April 8, 2012, after the attempted apprehension by the Philippine Navy of eight mainland Chinese fishing vessels near the shoal.

Reed Tablemount is a large tablemount or guyot in the South China Sea north-east of Dangerous Ground and north-east of the Spratly Islands. It covers an area of 8,866 square kilometres (3,423 sq mi), but with depths between only 9 and 45 metres. The submerged but hydrocarbon-rich area includes Nares Bank and Marie Louise Bank.

<i>Guang Da Xing No. 28</i> incident

The Guang Da Xing No. 28 incident was a fatal shooting incident that occurred on 9 May 2013 involving the 15-ton Taiwanese fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 and the 90-ton Philippine Coast Guard patrol boat Maritime Control Surveillance 3001, resulting in the death of a 65-year old Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng (洪石成) by gunfire from the Philippine vessel.

BRP <i>Ramon Alcaraz</i> (PS-16) Philippine Navy patrol ship

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) is the second ship of the Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels of the Philippine Navy. From 1968 to 2012, she was known as USCGC Dallas and served the United States Coast Guard as a high endurance cutter. She was decommissioned on 30 March 2012 and acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Articles and the Foreign Assistance Act.

BRP <i>Tubbataha</i> (MRRV-4401)

BRP Tubbataha (MRRV-4401) is the lead ship of the Parola-class patrol vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard, and is one of the newer additions to the agency's fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efforts to impeach Rodrigo Duterte</span> Political efforts to impeach Rodrigo Duterte during his presidency from 2016 to 2022

Efforts to impeach Rodrigo Duterte began in March 2017 when several opposition figures filed an impeachment complaint against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for his role in the war on drugs and other issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protests against Rodrigo Duterte</span> Political protests against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Protests against Former President Rodrigo Duterte escalated on November 18, 2016, following Duterte's support of the burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos. These series of protests are mostly conducted by progressive groups and other opposing figures mainly due to the ongoing war on drugs, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, and employment issues such as contractual terms being applied by companies and inflation which occurred due to the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. Other causes of the protests include the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and the shutdown and franchise denial of ABS-CBN.

2019 in the Philippines details events of note that have occurred in the Philippines in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exclusive economic zone of the Philippines</span> Maritime economic zone

The Philippines has an exclusive economic zone that covers 2,263,816 square kilometers (874,064 sq mi) of sea. It claims an EEZ of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its shores. This is due to the 7,641 islands comprising the Philippine archipelago. The total land area, including inland bodies of water, of the Philippines is 300,000 square kilometers (120,000 sq mi). It has the fifth longest coastline in the world with 36,289 kilometers (22,549 mi). The coordinates are between 116° 40', and 126° 34' E longitude and 4° 40' and 21° 10' N latitude. It is bordered by the Philippine Sea to the east and north, the South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 State of the Nation Address (Philippines)</span> Speech by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

The 2019 State of the Nation Address was the fourth State of the Nation Address delivered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

2020 in the Philippines details events of note that have occurred in the Philippines in 2020. The year is largely defined by the COVID-19 pandemic that caused the national economy to go into recession.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitsun Reef incident</span> Diplomatic incident

On March 22, 2021, a diplomatic incident started after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China due to the presence of more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels at Whitsun Reef as early as March 7, 2021. The reef is part of the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

MV <i>Karagatan</i> incident

The July 1972 MV Karagatan incident was an unsuccessful attempt by the New People's Army — the armed wing of the Marxist–Leninist–Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) — to smuggle armaments from China into the Philippines via the ship MV Karagatan. The incident is notable for having been cited by President Ferdinand Marcos as one of his rationales for imposing martial law in the Philippines in September 1972.

The first 100 days of Rodrigo Duterte's presidency began on June 30, 2016, the day Rodrigo Duterte was inaugurated as the 16th president of the Philippines. The concept of the first 100 days of a presidential term was first adopted in the Philippines by President Corazon Aquino from the United States and has since been used as a gauge of presidential success and activism, and is a considered the "honeymoon period" where traditional critics are urged to refrain from detracting the new president. The 100th day of his presidency ended at noon on October 8, 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 Talabong, Rambo (15 June 2019). "Crew of sunken Philippine boat now home". Rappler. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 Stashwick, Steven (14 June 2019). "Chinese Vessel Rams, Sinks Philippine Fishing Boat in Reed Bank". The Diplomat . Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  3. ↑ Nam, Hoang (18 June 2019). "All gestures, no words as Vietnamese fishermen saved 22 Filipinos". VnExpress . Retrieved 19 June 2019. Awakened past midnight, the crew of a fishing boat from the Mekong Delta's Tien Giang Province understood from gestures that some strangers in the sea were seeking help, said Ngo Van Theng, owner of the TGTG-90983-TS fishing boat which made world headlines for rescuing 22 Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea, called the East Sea in Vietnam, on 10 June.
  4. ↑ Quy, Nguyen; Hai, Vo (13 June 2019). "Vietnam rescues 22 Filipinos after Chinese vessel sinks boat". VnExpress . Retrieved 18 June 2019. The Vietnamese fishermen are from Tien Giang Province in the southern Mekong Delta. They have continued their fishing voyage after ensuring the Filipinos were safe, said Tien Giang's fisheries officials.
  5. ↑ Esmaquel II, Paterno (12 June 2019). "Sinking of Filipino vessel 'a first' in Philippines-China row". Rappler. Retrieved 18 June 2019. Referring to China, Batongbacal said, 'It's the first time it deliberately rammed, sank, and abandoned a Filipino fishing vessel in the West Philippine Sea. It is not the first time it rammed or took unilateral action against a Philippine fishing vessel. It is enough reason for this administration to reconsider its friendship policy toward China seriously. If this passes without good action on the part of China, it will herald a new phase in Philippine-China interaction in the West Philippine Sea: one where we will be forced out of the West Philippine Sea'.
  6. ↑ Philippine Coast Guard-Maritime Industry Authority (20 June 2019), "Joint PCG-MARINA Marine Safety Investigation on the incident Involving "FBca Gem-Ver"", Rappler, p. 4, retrieved 9 July 2019
  7. ↑ Oceanook.com. "YUEMAOBINYU42212" . Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Ranada, Pia (6 July 2019). "Final PCG-Marina report: Chinese ship failed to prevent sea collision". Rappler. Retrieved 8 July 2019. The Chinese vessel involved in the Recto Bank incident failed to undertake measures to avoid colliding with the Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver and eventually abandoned the boat's crew, in violation of maritime laws. These were among the official findings of the joint investigation carried out by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
  9. ↑ Sabillo, Kristine (20 June 2019). "Satellite data: Chinese vessel in Reed Bank incident often went 'dark'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 22 June 2019. According to Oceana Philippines, it has monitored fishing boats that go 'dark,' a tactic purportedly linked to illegal fishing. A closer look at the data showed that Yuemaobinyu was off the grid from 27 April to 12 June. It was on 9 June that the Chinese ship rammed FB Gem-Ver.
  10. ↑ "Beijing downplays boat collision, calls it 'ordinary maritime accident'". ABS-CBN News. Reuters. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  11. ↑ Ropero, Gillan (14 June 2019). "'No hit-and-run': Beijing denies boat abandoned Pinoy fishermen near Reed Bank". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  12. ↑ Cabico, Gaea Katreena Cabico (15 June 2019). "China takes down statement on sinking of Philippine fishing vessel". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  13. ↑ Esmaquel II, Paterno (18 June 2019). "China omits 'besieging' by PH boats in new statement". Rappler. Retrieved 20 June 2019. On the early morning of 10 June, an accidental collision took place between a Chinese fishing vessel and Filipino fishing vessels near the Liyue Tan. We express our sympathy to the Filipino fishermen who were in distress.
  14. ↑ Pazzibugan, Dona Z.; Ramos, Marlon (29 August 2019). "China fishing group apologizes for PH boat sinking". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 30 August 2019. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, speaking to reporters in Beijing ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's arrival for a fifth visit to China, said the owner of the trawler apologized for his vessel's hitting and sinking the FB Gem-Ver 1 then abandoning the Philippine fishing boat's crew in the open water.
  15. ↑ Pazzibugan, Dona Z. (30 August 2019). "Locsin refutes Palace, says PH did not accept Chinese apology". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 30 August 2019. Tweeting from Beijing, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. angrily refuted a Malacañang statement on Wednesday that said the Philippines had accepted China's apology.
  16. ↑ Panti, Llanesca T. (12 June 2019). "Chinese vessel hits, sinks Philippine boat in Recto Bank — Lorenzana". GMA News. Retrieved 18 June 2019. We denounce the actions of the Chinese fishing vessel for immediately leaving the incident scene abandoning the 22 Filipino crewmen to the mercy of the elements; We condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly action of the Chinese fishing vessel and its crew for abandoning the Filipino crew. This is not the expected action from a responsible and friendly people.
  17. ↑ Ramos, Christia Marie (13 June 2019). "Locsin fires off diplomatic protest after 'collision' of Chinese, PH vessels". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 18 June 2019. Thanks, meanwhile I fired off a diplomatic protest yesterday, Locsin said over Twitter on Thursday.
  18. ↑ Laude, Jaime (15 June 2019). "Philippine fishing boat was rammed – Navy chief". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  19. ↑ "Carpio: Highly likely a Chinese maritime militia vessel rammed Pinoy fishing vessel". GMA News. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  20. ↑ Manthorpe, Jonathan (28 April 2019). "Beijing's maritime militia, the scourge of South China Sea". Asia Times . Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  21. ↑ "'Banggaan lang ng mga barko 'yan': Duterte breaks silence on Reed Bank incident". ABS-CBN News. "You do not send gray ships (Philippine Navy) there. Banggaan lang ng barko 'yan. Do not make it worse because that is a fertile ground for... Alam ninyong mga sundalo, miscommunication 'yan. Patay na. And we are not yet as ready, and we can never be ready in a nuclear war because in nuclear war, kung bitawan lahat 'yan, the earth will dry up, and we will all be destroyed," he said.
  22. ↑ Bajo, Anna Felicica (17 June 2019). "Filipino boat captain in Recto Bank incident to skip meeting with Duterte". GMA News. Retrieved 18 June 2019. There will be no Monday meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Jonel Insigne, the captain of the fishing boat that was reportedly rammed by a Chinese vessel in Reed Bank last week. Insigne was still too "traumatized" by the Reed Bank incident to travel to Metro Manila.
  23. ↑ Corrales, Nestor (26 June 2019). "Duterte: China can fish in Philippines' EEZ". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 29 June 2019. ' Would you allow the fisherman to fish? Of course. That was our agreement', the President said, recalling his talk with Xi.
  24. ↑ Pinoy fishermen dismayed with Duterte statement on Chinese operating in Reed Bank ("The World Tonight," ABS-CBN News Channel). Occidental Mindoro, Philippines: ABS-CBN Corporation. 27 June 2019. Filipino fisherfolk rejected the government's decision to let Chinese fishermen continue to exploit resources in the country's exclusive economic zone out of friendship.
  25. ↑ "Boat captain's wife OK with Duterte impeachment". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Corporation. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019. Parang wala nang karapatan ang Pilipinas doon. Parang Chinese na lang ang sinusundan niya. Naiinis ako kanina, nanonood ako ng TV. Sabi ko, maigi pa ngang ma-impeach 'yan. (It seems the Philippines no longer has any rights there. It seems he only obeys what the Chinese tell him to do. I was annoyed as I watched TV. I say it would be better if he gets impeached.).
  26. ↑ Tomacruz, Sofia (28 August 2019). "China ship owner apologizes for PH boat sinking". Rappler. Retrieved 30 August 2019. The owner of the Chinese ship involved in the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea apologized through a letter shared with media on Wednesday, 28 August – over two months since the incident occurred.
  27. ↑ Tomacruz, Sofia (28 August 2019). "Carpio corrects China ship owner's apology: Recto Bank not part of Spratlys". Rappler. Retrieved 20 August 2019. Only China claims Reed Bank is part of the Spratly Islands (Nansha to China). The arbitral tribunal ruled that Reed Bank is a wholly submerged area, forming part of the Philippine EEZ (exclusive economic zone), beyond the territorial sea of any island in the Spratlys," Carpio said.
  28. ↑ Esmaquel II, Paterno (14 June 2019). "the U.S. hits intimidation at sea after Philippine boat sinking". Rappler. Retrieved 18 June 2019. Our position on the South China Sea is clear: We support lawful uses of the sea, respect for international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peace and stability. We urge all parties to refrain from using coercion and intimidation to assert their territorial and maritime claims.
  29. ↑ "Vietnam on Reed Bank incident: All ships responsible for humanitarian treatment". ABS-CBN News. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019. Accordingly, the ships are responsible for the humanitarian treatment and support fishermen in distress at sea. Vietnamese fishing vessels have performed international obligations when operating at sea as defined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 and the IMO Convention that Vietnam is a member.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.