China condemns Russia for alleged boat attack

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One ship was detained at the port of Nakhodka (Red Point), while the other ship was heading there. [CNTV]

China's vice foreign minister Cheng Guoping summoned a Russian diplomat on Thursday after Russia fired on Chinese fishing boats and detained dozens of fishermen.

Related story:36 Chinese fishermen detained by Russia

China expressed strong dissatifaction with Russia's actions to detain the Chinese fishing boat and crew after opening fire on the boat, Cheng said in a statement when meeting with the Russian diplomat.

Cheng urged Russia to properly handle this issue. "Russia should thoroughly investigate the incident and inform China of the results in a timely manner," said Cheng.

Cheng also demanded Russia to make sure that the detained sailors are safe, their legitimate rights are guaranteed and they receive humanitarian treatment.

Earlier media reports said Russia also detained another Chinese fishing boat one day before the attack which occurred on Monday.

Cheng asked Russia to release the boats and let the fishermen go quickly and make all-out efforts to search for the missing sailor.

The Russian diplomat said the investigation is ongoing and Russia will notify China as early as possible. He said he will report China's stance back to Russia.

According to the Chinese Consulate in Vladivostok, Russia's Far-East region, two Chinese fishing ships from China's eastern Shandong Province were seized by Russia--one on Sunday and the other, on Monday.

One ship carried 19 fishermen while the other had 17 on board. One ship was detained at the port of Nakhodka, while the other was heading there.

The local coastal service notified the consulate on Tuesday that the two ships were detained because they entered Russia's exclusive economic zone.

According to the RIA Novosti news agency, a Russian coast guard vessel, the Dzerzhinsky, fired warning shots and then opened targeted fire to stop a Chinese fishing ship that had been fishing for squid.

None of the Chinese fishermen were killed or wounded during the incident, RIA said.

China and Russia had frequent clashes in the waters of Russia exclusive economic zone, but opening fire in this confrontation is rare.

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