A Chinese fishing vessel, Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028, capsized in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday with 14 people on board. The vessel sent a distress signal that was detected by Australian and Chinese authorities who have since launched a search and rescue operation. Four individuals have been rescued so far, but 10 people are still missing. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “nut efforts” to be made in the rescue operation, while China’s Premier, Li Keqiang, has ordered measures to be taken to “reduce casualties and strengthen safety management of fishing vessels at sea”. Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have all expressed a willingness to join in the search.
China’s fishing vessels have previously been linked with illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean. A report released last year by a Norwegian watchdog group revealed that Chinese squid fishing ships were using wide nets to catch tuna that was already overfished. In 2020, the US Coast Guard had a confrontation with Chinese vessels near Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands during a mission to inspect the vessels for any sign of illegal fishing.
The capsizing of Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 highlights the dangers that Chinese fishing vessels face while operating in international waters. It also raises questions about China’s policy towards fishing, especially given the increasing aggression shown by Chinese vessels. This incident is likely to put pressure on Chinese authorities to enforce stricter regulations on its fishing industry.
Vietnamese Boat Sinks Amid Tensions with China over Oil Rig
Tensions between Vietnam and China continue to rise following an incident in which a Vietnamese fishing boat sank. The boat was rammed by a Chinese vessel as tensions mount over an oil rig that China installed 81 nautical miles off the coast of Vietnam. Vietnam has protested that the oil rig is located within its territorial boundaries, but China disputes this.
Chinese state media claimed that the Vietnamese boat was to blame for the collision, having allegedly been harassing the Chinese vessel. Vietnamese state media denies these accusations, arguing that the Vietnamese boat only sank after being struck by the Chinese vessel. Following the incident, Vietnam has announced its intention to take “necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and legitimate interests” in the South China Sea.
The sinking of the Vietnamese fishing boat demonstrates the increasing hostility between Vietnam and China, with over 80 Chinese vessels now patrolling around the oil rig. The incident may further fuel tensions between the two countries and raise questions about China’s territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.
Conclusion
The capsizing of Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 and the sinking of the Vietnamese fishing vessel highlights the risks and challenges that fishing vessels face while operating in international waters. These incidents are likely to put pressure on China to enforce stricter regulations on its fishing industry and to address the growing aggression shown by Chinese vessels towards other countries. They also raise questions about China’s territorial ambitions in the South China Sea and underline the need for a diplomatic solution to resolve disputes in the region.
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