Vietnam Coast Guard Seizes Chinese Ship

Vietnam's coast guard has seized a Chinese vessel for intruding into its territorial waters, according to local media.

The seizure occurred on Thursday in the northern port city of Haiphong. The vessel was carrying diesel fuel in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The captain of the Chinese ship allegedly admitted to the intrusion, saying he was carrying fuel for Chinese fishing boats in the area.

The report comes amid accusations from Malaysia and Indonesia that Chinese fishing vessels, backed by the Chinese coast guard, are intruding into what the countries consider as their sovereign waters.

On March 14, anti-Chinese demonstrators marched in Hanoi to mark the 28th anniversary of a bloody naval battle with China and to denounce Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.