With the unfortunate event of a fishing vessel capsizing, both sides of the strait join in the rescue effort to save the missing crew.
Video script:
Early Thursday morning brought the news of another Chinese vessel's tragic accident near Kinmen Island, prompting an immediate rescue mission by Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration.
The search and rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate survivors. Among the debris floating in the water, an important discovery was made—a down jacket, belonging to one of the crew members.
The Chinese fishing boat, registered as 'Min Long Yu 61222,' had six crew members onboard when it overturned. Two crew members were rescued and two are still missing. Tragically, two individuals were confirmed dead.
Deputy Captain Chen Chien-wen (陳建文) of the Coast Guard’s 9th Offshore Flotilla in Kinmen says the team swiftly established an emergency response center to coordinate rescue efforts. Four patrol vessels were immediately dispatched to the area.
The incident occurred approximately 1.1 nautical miles southwest of Dongding Island, off the coast of Kinmen. China's deployment included six helicopters and maritime rescue vessels. Among these, China’s Dong Hai Jiu 113 (東海救113) rescue ship tirelessly circled the area, aiding in the search and rescue mission.
Questions were raised about the presence of Taiwanese patrol boats in the vicinity, highlighting the sensitivity of the situation. A rare sight unfolded as Chinese rescue personnel in white helmets and Taiwanese counterparts in orange helmets, worked side by side.
A similar incident occurred just a month ago where two Chinese fishermen drowned during a pursuit by Taiwan’s Coast Guard where the Chinese vessel was suspected of trespassing into Taiwanese waters. The incident brought additional tension to cross-strait relations.
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) emphasized the humanitarian nature of the rescue mission on Thursday, stating that Taiwan is committed to assisting in any way it can.