The Vietnamese news outlet Zing.vn reported on August 24, 2017, that from the beginning of June until now, 21 fishing boats of Quang Ngai and their fishermen have been attacked and chased in the maritime area of the Paracels [in the South China Sea]. It said the leader of the high commandment of the [Vietnamese] Border Guards of Quang Ngai had informed that during the recent period the Chinese side has increased chasing and attacking fishermen of Quang Ngai when they were fishing in the Paracels. Over less than the past three months, 21 fishing boats with 136 fishermen of the region had been attacked by certain Chinese forces. Of them, 3 boats were rammed and 2 sunk. Nguyen Quang Trung, Vice President of the People’s Committee of the District of Binh Son added that during the past month 14 boats particularly in the District of Binh Son were attacked by the Chinese side and robbed and their properties destroyed.Two fishing boats have been rammed and sunk in the area. Nguyen Quang Trung said he had sent a petition to the Government proposing they have a solution to fight diplomatically against this actions of China, but that the Vietnamese executive forces on sea must also increase their activities and patrols and protect sovereignty to allow the fishermen to peacefully continue their fishing. He said Minister Tam is paying attention to the fact that the fishermen going to the open sea must follow a pattern of nesting (groups of boats fishing together), so that they will be able in time to face any eventuality and save and rescue and help each other in situations of insecurity and unlucky events. He added that it is important for the fishermen to take pictures to have proof for the fight to convince China and the other nations concerned about with this persecution of fishermen who are fishing legally in the Vietnamese maritime area.