China/Vietnam/South China Sea: Vietnam's Fishing ‘Militia’ to Defend Maritime Claims against China

Apr 6, 2018 | Ralph Jennings, Voice of America
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Vietnam is quietly fostering a state-supported fishing boat militia to hold off China at sea even as the two sides talk formally about easing their sovereignty dispute, according to experts who follow the issue. The Southeast Asian country is encouraging its commercial fishing fleet to use stronger boats and take military-trained personnel to sea in case of a clash with China, analysts who follow the country say. China has its own fishing militia, in the same body of water.