China Thanks Indian Navy for Rescuing Crew From Burning Cargo Ship Off Kerala Coast
Amid strained diplomatic ties, the Chinese Embassy in India on Tuesday publicly expressed its gratitude to the Indian Navy for the “prompt and professional rescue” of 22 crew members, including 14 Chinese nationals, from a container vessel that caught fire off the coast of Kerala.
In a notable statement, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, Yu Jing, acknowledged the swift action of Indian forces after the Singapore-flagged MV WAN HAI 503 experienced an explosion and fire on Sunday, June 9. The vessel was approximately 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala, while en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva.
“Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue,” Yu Jing stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter. She confirmed that of the 22 crew members aboard, 14 were Chinese citizens, which included six individuals from Taiwan. “We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members speedy recovery,” the spokesperson added.
The entire crew was successfully evacuated and disembarked at Mangalore Port late on Monday night. Meanwhile, Indian Coast Guard ships Sachet and Samudra Prahari continued to battle the blaze through the night. A defence spokesperson confirmed that a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft was dispatched on Tuesday morning to conduct an aerial survey of the site.
The public expression of thanks from Beijing comes at a time of sensitive relations between India and China, largely stemming from the fatal military standoff in the Galwan Valley in 2020. The two nations have had several diplomatic disagreements recently.
Last month, India’s Embassy in China cautioned the state-run Global Times against publishing unverified reports. This followed New Delhi’s categorical rejection of China’s attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, with the Ministry of External Affairs asserting that the state “was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.” The acknowledgment of the Indian Navy’s life-saving efforts presents a moment of civil cooperation against this backdrop of persistent friction.
