China thanks Indian Navy for rescuing its sailors

With the joint efforts of all the sides, 24 Chinese sailors of Panama-registered vessel ‘Fu Cheng’, which was seized by Somalian pirates, have been safely rescued, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said in a statement.

“We sincerely appreciate this and express our heartfelt gratitude to Turkey, the US and India. The international community must continue to strengthen cooperation in fighting sea piracy and jointly safeguard maritime security in the region,” she said.

Jiang’s comments came after 24 Chinese sailors on a seized Panama-registered bulk cargo ship were rescued last week. Pirates attacked the vessel, Full City, last Thursday some 450 nautical miles off the coast of Mumbai.

The Chinese sailors managed to escape as they locked themselves in a safe room after pirates took over the ship.

The pirates, however, fled after an Indian maritime reconnaissance plane which flew over the ship warned them that naval ships were on their way to rescue the vessel.