Chinese gov’t calls for ‘thorough investigation’ on boat sinking

This screen grab of a Monday, March 14, 2016 video released by Argentina’s navy, or “Prefectura Naval Argentina” (PNA), shows what they identify as Chinese fishing boat “Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010” in Argentina’s national waters off the coast of Puerto Madryn, Argentina. Argentina’s navy said in a statement it used gunfire to sink the boat fishing illegally in its waters after its crew didn’t heed warning calls and instead tried to ram an Argentine naval vessel. The navy reports all four people on board were rescued and arrested. Argentina’s Navy via AP

China’s government is calling for a “thorough investigation” after it has expressed “serious concerns” on an incident where Argentina’s coast guard sank a Chinese fishing boat.

READ: Argentine coast guard sinks Chinese fishing boat

In a statement on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that the fishing vessel Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 “was chased by Argentina’s coast guards for several hours and then shot by them, which caused a leak in the hull and led to its sinking.”

“Four Chinese crew members were rescued by Argentina’s coast guards. The other 28 were rescued by Chinese fishing boats nearby. There are no reports of death or injury,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

The Chinese government urged a thorough probe on the matter to avoid a repetition of the said incident.

“The Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Argentina have lodged urgent representations with the Argentine side, expressing serious concerns and demanding that the Argentine side conduct a thorough investigation, inform the Chinese side of the details, ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese crew, and take effective measures to avoid any repetition of such an incident,” Lu said. RAM