Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HANOI1283
2007-07-20 17:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
VIETNAM MFA DISPUTES DETAILS OF ARTICLE ON CLASH
how-toVZCZCXRO8057 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHHI #1283 2011732 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201732Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5863 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 6947 RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH IMMEDIATE 3386 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE 1513 RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 001283
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLA AND EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017
TAGS: ECON MARR PREL VM CN
SUBJECT: VIETNAM MFA DISPUTES DETAILS OF ARTICLE ON CLASH
WITH CHINA OVER SPRATLYS
REF: A. REF: A. HANOI 1076
B. B. HANOI1119
Classified By: Ambassador Michael W. Marine. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 001283
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLA AND EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017
TAGS: ECON MARR PREL VM CN
SUBJECT: VIETNAM MFA DISPUTES DETAILS OF ARTICLE ON CLASH
WITH CHINA OVER SPRATLYS
REF: A. REF: A. HANOI 1076
B. B. HANOI1119
Classified By: Ambassador Michael W. Marine. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) A July 19 Straits Times article reported that a group
of Vietnamese boats fishing in waters near the Spratlys came
"under fire" from Chinese naval vessels on July 9. According
to the article Vietnamese "military sources" reported that
one fishermen was killed and several others were injured and
one of the Vietnamese boats sank after the attack. According
to the article, two of Vietnam's Russian-designed BPS-500
fast-attack craft raced to the scene, but kept their distance
because of the superior firepower of the Chinese vessels.
2. (C) On July 20, Pol Assistant asked Deputy Director Nguyen
Manh Hien of the MFA Maritime Affairs Department's Committee
on Frontier Issues for confirmation of details in the
article. Hien identified three significant inaccuracies in
the article:
- The incident took place at the end of June, not July 9
(Hien did not explicitly confirm deaths);
- It occurred near the Woodly Island (known as Phu Lam in
Vietnamese),in the Paracels (not the Spratlys); and,
- Vietnam did not dispatch its ships to the scene.
3. (C) Hien claimed that the MFA "is not working on this
issue," but stated that Vietnam and China continue to work
together to avoid incidents. He noted "such incidents have
happened often and will likely occur again," but he hoped the
unfortunate fishermen caught in the middle would be treated
more humanely next time. Hien declined to comment when asked
whether the incident represented a Chinese attempt to
increase pressure in the area given that it took place in an
area that is neither on Vietnam's continental shelf nor an
area where British Petroleum or ConocoPhillips have operated.
4. (C) Comment: Given the lack of previous press reporting
on this sensitive issue, we are surprised that this MFA
official even confirmed to us that it had taken place. The
use of force in the South China Sea is a matter which evokes
deep emotions and will feed anti-China sentiments here. Now
that the fact clashes have occurred has been reported in the
press, it will be interesting to see how Hanoi chooses to
deal with the issue. Remaining silent could be seen as a
sign of weakness in the face of bullying by Beijing.
MARINE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLA AND EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017
TAGS: ECON MARR PREL VM CN
SUBJECT: VIETNAM MFA DISPUTES DETAILS OF ARTICLE ON CLASH
WITH CHINA OVER SPRATLYS
REF: A. REF: A. HANOI 1076
B. B. HANOI1119
Classified By: Ambassador Michael W. Marine. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) A July 19 Straits Times article reported that a group
of Vietnamese boats fishing in waters near the Spratlys came
"under fire" from Chinese naval vessels on July 9. According
to the article Vietnamese "military sources" reported that
one fishermen was killed and several others were injured and
one of the Vietnamese boats sank after the attack. According
to the article, two of Vietnam's Russian-designed BPS-500
fast-attack craft raced to the scene, but kept their distance
because of the superior firepower of the Chinese vessels.
2. (C) On July 20, Pol Assistant asked Deputy Director Nguyen
Manh Hien of the MFA Maritime Affairs Department's Committee
on Frontier Issues for confirmation of details in the
article. Hien identified three significant inaccuracies in
the article:
- The incident took place at the end of June, not July 9
(Hien did not explicitly confirm deaths);
- It occurred near the Woodly Island (known as Phu Lam in
Vietnamese),in the Paracels (not the Spratlys); and,
- Vietnam did not dispatch its ships to the scene.
3. (C) Hien claimed that the MFA "is not working on this
issue," but stated that Vietnam and China continue to work
together to avoid incidents. He noted "such incidents have
happened often and will likely occur again," but he hoped the
unfortunate fishermen caught in the middle would be treated
more humanely next time. Hien declined to comment when asked
whether the incident represented a Chinese attempt to
increase pressure in the area given that it took place in an
area that is neither on Vietnam's continental shelf nor an
area where British Petroleum or ConocoPhillips have operated.
4. (C) Comment: Given the lack of previous press reporting
on this sensitive issue, we are surprised that this MFA
official even confirmed to us that it had taken place. The
use of force in the South China Sea is a matter which evokes
deep emotions and will feed anti-China sentiments here. Now
that the fact clashes have occurred has been reported in the
press, it will be interesting to see how Hanoi chooses to
deal with the issue. Remaining silent could be seen as a
sign of weakness in the face of bullying by Beijing.
MARINE