Is China downplaying ‘restrained’ clash with Vietnamese fishermen near Paracel Islands?

Observers also say the latest incident could be the “tip of the iceberg”, and Hanoi could pivot from its low-key diplomatic approach to its maritime dispute with Beijing if similar incidents were to recur.

Their comments follow a reported attack on a Vietnamese fishing boat on Sunday, with Hanoi protesting to Beijing days after the incident. In response, Beijing’s foreign ministry said “no injuries were found” and that on-site operations to handle a case of illegal fishing were “professional and restrained”.

Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow with the Australia-based Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia programme, said although video evidence indicated otherwise, China has consistently maintained that its coastguard or military personnel behaved properly to protect its sovereignty.

“This approach is primarily taken to target the domestic audience – to convince them that Chinese forces are acting in a reasonable manner,” Rahman said.