17 Indonesians Missing After Chinese Fishing Boat Capsizes
- South China Morning Post
VIVA – A Chinese fishing boat has capsized in the central Indian Ocean. State media reported on Wednesday that the missing crew consisted of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians and 5 Filipino sailors.
"So far, no missing people have been found," state broadcaster CCTV said.
He also added that Chinese President Xi Jinping had ordered a search and rescue operation.
The vessel named Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028, owned by Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co, capsized at around 3 am Beijing time, on Tuesday.
Kapal Coast Guard China-5302 memotong haluan KRI Usman Harun-359 pada jarak 60 yards (sekitar 55 meter) saat melaksanakan patroli mendekati kapal nelayan pukat China yang melakukan penangkapan ikan di ZEE Indonesia Utara Pulau Natuna, Sabtu (11/1/2020).
- ANTARA FOTO/M Risyal Hidayat
Search and rescue teams from around the region have arrived at the scene, and China has deployed two ships to assist with the operation.
Beijing's Foreign Ministry also launched an emergency mechanism for consular protection involving embassies and consulates in Australia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.
Previously, two Chinese crew members were killed last month when a Chinese dredger capsized in Philippine waters. Over the past two decades, China has built the world's largest deep-sea fishing fleet.
But as supplies at home have dwindled, Chinese fishermen have sailed further afield, becoming entangled in a growing number of maritime disputes and accidents.
In 2019, the Philippines accused a Chinese ship of ramming a Philippine boat in the disputed South China Sea, causing it to sink and endangering the lives of nearly a dozen crew members.