CHINA PROTESTS ATTACK ON CHINESE FISHERMEN.

Beijing yesterday strongly protested the killing of two Chinese fishermen earlier this week by Russian border forces. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the action was “incompatible with good neighborly and friendly relations between China and Russia.” The spokesman also said that the fishermen posed no threat to the Russian border patrol boats. He called upon Moscow to ensure that such an incident is not repeated. (Kyodo, May 28)

In its own statement following the confrontation at sea the Russian Foreign Ministry called the deaths regrettable, but defended the actions of the Russian border guards. The incident in question occurred on May 25, when a Russian border forces vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat that was said to have been fishing illegally in Russia waters. The attack, which occurred approximately 120 miles southeast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, left two Chinese fishermen dead and five wounded. (See Monitor, May 27)

RUSSIA AND CHECHNYA SIGN SECURITY AGREEMENTS.