Vietnam has accused Chinese authorities of beating several of its fishermen in a recent incident and has demanded severe punishment for those involved.

The country’s foreign ministry posted a statement on its website late on Tuesday saying a Vietnamese fishing vessel working near the Paracel islands on August 15 was intercepted by two Chinese speedboats.

The Chinese on the speedboats vandalised the fishing boat, confiscated property and beat the fishermen, it alleged. 

The Paracels are occupied by China but also claimed by Vietnam.

Chinese vessels also harassed two Vietnamese fishing boats in separate incidents earlier in August.

Vietnam demanded China investigate and severely punish those involved and compensates the fishermen, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh.

Relations between Hanoi and Beijing plunged after the setting-up of a Chinese oil rig in May.

China removed the rig in July and since then the countries have been working to mend relations.