According to a source close to the matter, the Vietnamese vessels illegally intruded the Xisha islands at the night of September 29. The China Coast Guard law enforcement vessels then sounded its horn as a warning and required the Vietnamese vessel to accept inspection, but the latter refused to cooperate.

The Philippines accused Chinese maritime officials on Friday of carrying out an "unjustified assault" on Vietnamese fishermen in the contested waters of the South China Sea, adding its voice to a fraught dispute over the confrontation.

MANILA – The Philippines’ foreign ministry said on Friday it was aware of what it described as a “serious incident” between Vietnamese fishermen and Chinese maritime authorities late last month. “The Philippines has consistently denounced the use of force,

Vietnam claims an attack by Chinese law enforcement on a Vietnamese fishing vessel in disputed waters resulted in injuries to 10 crewmen.

Vietnam has condemned China while saying that Chinese law enforcement personnel assaulted 10 Vietnamese fishermen, damaged their fishing gear and seized about 4 tons of fish catch near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippines on Friday denounced China 's alleged assault of Vietnamese fishermen in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing are also locked in violent confrontations that have led to fears of armed conflict.