The coast guard, which dispatched a patrol boat and plane to the site after receiving a signal from the cargo ship yesterday, has rescued the six other members of the sunk vessel’s 14-strong crew, a coast guard spokesman told Agence France-Presse.
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A Chinese fishing boat sank after colliding with a Greek cargo ship in the East China Sea Thursday morning, said the Foreign Ministry quoting an announcement by the China Coast Guard and China Maritime Search and Rescue Center. China also claims territorial rights to the tiny islands, which it calls Diaoyu, a position rejected by the global community.
The Chinese boat was engaged in fishing activities while the Greek ship, which had a crew of 11 Greeks, 10 Filipinos and two Ukrainians, was on its way to Australia from China, Okinawa-based The Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper reported. China brushed the complaints aside, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying saying, “The Chinese side is working to properly manage situation in the relevant waters”.
Some 200-300 Chinese fishing boats were spotted sailing in the so-called contiguous zone just outside territorial waters, with some entering Japanese waters, prompting Tokyo to lodge repeated protests with Beijing.
According to Japanese media, the Chinese ambassador to Japan explained the influx of fishing vessels as in response to abnormal concentrations of fish near the area, rather than a strategic move. For one, it’s noteworthy that Japan’s ships were apparently the first on the scene, despite a usually high concentration of Chinese Coast Guard ships in the region.
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While they voiced their appreciation for Japan’s rescue efforts, Chinese netizens insist on China’s territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. “But the Diaoyu Islands still are ours”.
