Vietnam detains Chinese fishing group

Maritime security is on the agenda at this week's Asean meeting

By Clare Arthurs BBC correspondent in Hanoi

The authorities in Vietnam are continuing to hold the members of a Chinese fishing party who were rescued almost a month ago after their vessels sank in disputed waters near the Spratly islands.

The ongoing dispute over the islands is believed to be behind the delay in returning the group to their homes in Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland.

China and Vietnam have different names for the islands, and it appears this is preventing the two sides from agreeing on transfer documents so the group can be released.

A provincial naval officer says the group was rescued early on 14 August after the boat sank in a storm near what Vietnam calls Tien Nu.

Stalemate

More than a week later they were taken to a state-owned hotel in the central coast city of Nha Trang.

The manager of the Bien Phong hotel, Nguyen Xuan Huy, says there are 11 in the group - one woman and 10 men - and they have been at the guest house for more than two weeks.

Mr Huy says they have been given food and money, and they are allowed to go shopping with what he calls "a local guide".

The Vietnamese government has so far declined requests for information, but the navy official says the group will not be released until the two governments can agree on the transfer.

Reports from Hong Kong quoting local officials suggest the ongoing dispute over possession of the Spratly islands is to blame for the delay.

Vietnam calls the islands Troung Sa, China calls them Nam Sha. A total of five nations have claims over the islands, which have good fishing as well as reserves of oil and gas.

The Chinese embassy in Hanoi has declined to take calls on the latest spat.

China and Vietnam fought briefly over the islands in 1988, but have since resolved to negotiate their border issues peacefully.

But the detention of the fisher-folk must be an embarrassment to both sides.

The detention and delay of the group continues as Vietnam hosts a major regional conference of parliamentarians which is focusing on co-operation, and a visit by a human rights delegation from the European Union.