The Indian Navy deployed its Air Maritime Reconnaissance assets in the Southern Indian Ocean to save a sinking Chinese Fishing Vessel LuPeng YuanYu 028. The ship had 39 crew members on board missing including 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian, 5 Filipinos. Two people from the crew were confirmed dead. The P18 aircraft deployed by the Indian navy is part of the ongoing search for the missing vessel. It has so far carried out several extensive searches despite harsh weather conditions in the relevant search region. It has also located multiple objects belonging to the vessel, as part of the operation. On Friday the navy reported locating a capsized Chinese fishing vessel, its life raft and guided LuPeng YuanYu towards it.
The Indian navy, on its official twitter account updated about the search and rescue mission. It said that as a responsible and credible partner for ensuring sea safety, the navy units of India will coordinate search and operation efforts with other countries under the guidance of the PLA Navy Warships. The Foreign Ministry spokesman of China Wang Wenbin informed the media that relevant Chinese vessels to conduct the rescue operation with the help of foreign vessels have arrived in the Indian ocean region.
The P-81 and the drones are often deployed at the north land bordering China to upgrade infrastructure and monitor troops and to enhance the ongoing surveillance build ups amidst the heightened tension along the 3,488 km of the Line of Actual Control.
TWO BODIES FOUND IN CHINESE VESSEL
The Chinese state media confirmed to have found two bodies inside the vessel, during the ongoing search. The nationalities of the dead are not yet given. The capsized boat is within Australia’s rescue and search region. According to International Maritime convention, rescue and search operations have to be carried out by countries in determined area’s of the world ocean. The capsized boat was found 5,000 kilometres west of Perth, capital of Western Australia which makes the country primarily responsible for search operations. The country has sent four ships and three aeroplanes for the operation, as told by Chinese Ambassador Xian Qian. He also urged Canberra to send more ships, aircraft and personnel to further their efforts.
LARGE AREA OF INDIAN OCEAN IDENTIFIED BY AUSTRALIA
Based on drift modelling, as informed by an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to Xinhua, a remote area of 12,000 square km zone has been identified for the search of the vessel. China is increasing its coordination with the search and rescue agencies in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. The AMSA is reportedly also working with the China Meteorological Administration to predict the drift of the mission crew.
China thanked the host of nations, including India, for responding to its call and helping China out in the search and rescue of the missing members.
