Argentina has agreed to send a military vessel to help search for a Taiwanese fishing boat that has been missing since February 26.
The boat, the Hsiang Fu Chun, last made contact while it was located 1,500 nautical miles from Argentina and 1,700 nautical miles from the British-controlled Falkland Islands. It was carrying a crew of 49, with 21 from Indonesia, 13 from the Philippines, 11 from China, two from Vietnam, and two, including the captain, from Taiwan.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao said Thursday that the military vessel from Argentina will reach the area where the ship was reported missing in four days. The ministry also said that Taiwan’s representative office in the UK has contacted the British authorities and the European Union Naval Force for help. Other Taiwanese fishing boats operating nearby are helping in the search as well.
Meanwhile, China’s Xinhua News reports that China’s embassy in Argentina has also asked local authorities to help in the search of the missing boat.