ANKARA

A Chinese ship allegedly rammed into a Vietnamese fishing vessel, causing it to sink in the South China Sea, according to a news report on Friday.

The incident, an indicator of persisting tensions in the region, occurred near the disputed Paracel Islands on Thursday, German news agency DPA reported.

"This is the first time a Chinese ship has hit and sunk boats in our commune this year," Nguyen Van Hai, a local Vietnamese official from the Quang Ngai province, was quoted as saying.

He said the eight crew members of the fishing boat were "captured and detained" on a nearby island.

Citing state media, the report said two more Vietnamese fishing vessels tried to rescue the fishermen, but they were also detained.

China released the eight fishermen and the two Vietnamese rescue boats on Thursday evening, the report added.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea as its territory but its claim is contested by countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.