After Chinese vessels took fisheries enforcement measures against the illegal activities of Vietnamese fishing vessels on September 29, China and Vietnam maintained communication, managed disputes, and fully demonstrated their willingness and capability to handle the incident appropriately. However, the Philippines and the United States, as non-parties, have been unusually “excited”, sparing no effort to disseminate false information and sow discord, and attempting to stigmatize China as a “bully”. Much of the propaganda regarding China’s fisheries management in the South China Sea is rooted in false information and erroneous legal interpretation.

A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson claimed that the incident demonstrated that Vietnamese fishermen took a stand because they felt “bullied” by China, implying that Vietnam would begin to speak out to “expose” China’s actions in the South China Sea and accuse China of attacking “innocent civil entities”. A U.S. State Department spokesperson was also “deeply concerned” about China’s actions against Vietnamese fishing vessels and called on China to stop its “dangerous and destabilizing conduct”. To label China's professional and restrained fisheries enforcement activities as “violent and illegal actions” is absolutely a distortion of the facts.

Firstly, the incident was not about “bullying”, but rather about China exercising its rights as a coastal State in accordance with the law against illegal fishing activities. China’s fisheries enforcement measures were taken as Vietnamese fishing vessels had intruded into the waters adjacent to China’s Xisha Qundao, engaging in illegal fishing.

Secondly, the incident did not disrupt overall cooperation or the peaceful settlement of the South China Sea issue between China and Vietnam. Authorities from both China and Vietnam communicated and exchanged information promptly after the incident, working to ease the situation and effectively manage disagreements.

Finally, the accusation against China’s law enforcement is based on a factual account taken out of context. The Vietnamese fishing vessel was in no way an innocent civil entity as claimed by the Philippines, but had entered an area where fishing was prohibited and engaged in illegal activities. The Chinese law enforcement vessels encountered violent resistance when boarding and inspecting the vessel, leading them to take coercive measures within reasonable limits to stop the illegal actions. Some individuals with ulterior motives even selectively edited parts of the video released by Chinese media to distort the truth and incite public opinion.

From the legal perspective, the PCG spokesperson’s assertion that China “lacks any legitimate law enforcement activities” is groundless and absurd. China holds territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over the Xisha Qundao and its adjacent waters, allowing it to enact and enforce domestic laws to combat illegal fishing. In this case, China followed legal procedures for fisheries enforcement and took necessary measures in accordance with the situation, aligning with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as domestic laws.

Apparently, the accusations made by a few countries against China’s routine fisheries enforcement disregard the facts of the incident and international law and reveal a deliberate effort to discredit China. This behavior once again reflects their apprehension about a calm South China Sea. While these countries speak of the livelihoods and safety of crews, as well as peace and security in the South China Sea, their actions are frequently deceitful and aimed at undermining the amicable relations between China and its neighboring countries.

It is important to acknowledge that advocating for confrontation in the South China Sea for selfish reasons does not promote peace and stability in the region. The ulterior motives of distorting right and wrong have been laid bare. Countries within and outside the South China Sea region should respect the facts and international law and cease the meaningless stigmatization.

（Author: Chen Xidi, China Institute for Marine Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources)