China Coast Guard Sinks Vietnamese Fishing Boat Near Paracels

Chinese Coast Guard vessel Haijing 4301 rammed and sank Vietnamese fishing boat QNg-90617 TS near Woody Island in the Paracel Islands. Eight Vietnamese crew members were rescued by Chinese forces and returned to Quang Ngai province; no fatalities. Vietnam filed a formal diplomatic protest; the US State Department called the incident 'seriously concerning.' China denied deliberate ramming, calling it a 'collision.'