The Xinhua News Agency quoted sailors as saying that the ever-biggest fleet including a 3,000 tonne supply ship and 29 ships with a tonnage of more than 140 each will fish there for five to ten days. They are under the protection of a Chinese fishery administration vessel.

Earlier on July 13, a representative from the National Border Committee under the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Chinese fishermen’s activities around the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago are illegal and violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over this archipelago.

Vietnam has many times affirmed its stance on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos. The country requests China to be responsible for educating and guiding its fishermen to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as international law, he said.