Vietnam has demanded the immediate return of two fishing boats seized by China in two separate incidents off a disputed island chain in the South China Sea.

At a press conference in Hanoi yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said the government had demanded the return of a trawler seized on March 4 and another 10 days ago off the Paracel Islands, an archipelago
which both countries lay claim to.

Both crews were released soon after the seizures, the latter being released on Wednesday.

“Vietnam has requested China promptly return the boats and all equipment and stop further seizures,” Nghi said.

He said the ministry has sent a letter of protest to the Chinese embassy in Hanoi calling the seizures “serious violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty, maritime rights, and jurisdiction.”