Philippine Daily Inquirer

Viet fisherman dies as Malaysia patrol opens fire

Vietnamese allegedly rammed Malaysian Coast Guard vessel

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KUALA LUMPUR—THE Malaysian Coast Guard shot dead a Vietnamese fisherman whose boat tried to ram a patrol vessel in the South China Sea, an official said on Monday.

The incident took place inside Malaysian waters, where local fisherman have complained in the past about Vietnamese fishing boats that damage their nets.

Malaysian Coast Guard chief Zubil Mat Som told Agence France-presse (AFP) that two Vietnamese fishing boats had entered Malaysian waters some 80 nautical miles from Tok Bali, off the northeaste­rn state of Kelantan on late Sunday.

Warning shots

“The Coast Guard crew had earlier fired warning shots in the air, but after they rammed and threw a bottle of petrol, my men had no choice but to open fire in self-defense,” he said.

Zubil alleged that the Vietnamese crew had thrown petrol and a tire to try and set fire to the Coast Guard boat, which was damaged by the “aggressive ramming.”

One Vietnamese fisherman suffered gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead after he was brought to shore.

“We are saddened by this deadly incident. But I can guarantee ... my men took this action to protect their lives and to protect our national sovereignt­y,” Zubil added.

The Vietnamese boats with the remaining 20 crew members were towed to the Coast Guard jetty.

Parts of the South China Sea are subject to rival claims by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippine­s, Taiwan and Vietnam, while Beijing claims the entire waterway.

The rival claims to the sea, which straddles vital shipping lanes and covers rich fishing grounds, makes it a potential flashpoint for conflict.

China and the Associatio­n of Southeast Asian Nations—where four claimants are members of— are currently in talks for a code of conduct in the area.

While not a claimant, the United States has been sending freedom of navigation patrols in internatio­nal waters, but China has slammed these as interferen­ce in regional affairs.

In February, Kuala Lumpur sought to secure a deal with Hanoi to end alleged intrusions into Malaysian waters by Vietnamese vessels.

 ?? —REUTERS ?? CLASH Fragments of a diesel bomb—similar to one in the inset—allegedly thrown by Vietnamese fishermen is seen on a Malaysia coast guard boat on Monday.
—REUTERS CLASH Fragments of a diesel bomb—similar to one in the inset—allegedly thrown by Vietnamese fishermen is seen on a Malaysia coast guard boat on Monday.

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