Breaking News from the South China Sea
The number of survivors from the Vietnamese cargo ship, Khoi Nguyen 18, that sank off a Chinese-occupied shoal in the South China Sea has risen to 48 as search and rescue operations continue to hunt for more people who went down with the vessel.
The incident occurred on Saturday, when the cargo ship sank near Fiery Cross Reef, a Chinese-built island and military outpost in the hotly contested Spratly Islands. The vessel was operating in bad weather in the East Sea, according to the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry.
The Vietnamese authorities announced on Monday that three more of the 62 people onboard had been saved, but did not provide details of the rescue operation. The multinational search for 14 people who remain missing is still underway, involving Vietnamese, Philippine, and Chinese rescuers.
Vietnamese authorities stated that all 48 rescued people had been transferred to their authorities, who were providing medical care before taking them back to the mainland. The Vietnamese cargo vessel, Khoi Nguyen 18, was built in 2017 and was last detected in March near Vietnam on its automated identification system, or AIS, according to ship tracking platform MarineTraffic.
Under a United Nations maritime safety treaty signed by Vietnam, large cargo ships are required to keep AIS transponders switched on at all times to broadcast the vessel’s identity, position, and course. This requirement aims to enhance maritime safety and prevent accidents such as the one that occurred on Saturday.
Vietnam said it mobilized rescue operations immediately, coordinating closely with Chinese rescue ships, helicopters, and other vessels in the area. The Philippine Coast Guard also deployed a patrol vessel and an aircraft after receiving a request from Vietnam, stating that the operation was being carried out under international maritime agreements and bilateral cooperation with Vietnam.
The South China Sea is a highly contested region, with China becoming increasingly aggressive in asserting its claims in virtually the entire area. The sea passage is also a vital route for global trade, with about $5 trillion in trade transiting through it each year. The region is believed to sit atop vast undersea deposits of oil and gas, making it a highly valuable resource.
The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between Vietnam and China over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam, along with Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, has overlapping claims in the strategic waterway, along with China and the Philippines.
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