At least two crew members have died after a cargo vessel carrying 21 Filipino sailors capsized near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, triggering a search-and-rescue operation on Friday. The Chinese military reported receiving a distress call at around 1.30am local time, stating that 17 crew members were rescued, two of whom later died, while four remain missing.
The Chinese military deployed an aircraft to search the area, and the Chinese coast guard sent two vessels to assist. The Philippines coast guard (PCG) also dispatched two ships and two aircraft to help the Filipino crew aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo ship, which was carrying iron ore and heading for the southern Chinese port of Yangjiang. The vessel capsized about 55 nautical miles (101km) northwest of Scarborough Shoal.
The PCG said it had received information from the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that 10 of the 21 crew members were rescued by a passing China Coast Guard vessel. Scarborough Shoal is one of the most hotly disputed maritime features in the region, with China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan all asserting claims.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between China and the Philippines. China recently summoned the Philippine ambassador over a social media post by a Philippine coast guard officer that allegedly included cartoonish images of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the post, calling for the Philippines to stop tolerating what he described as a smear campaign.
Philippine coast guard commodore Jay Tarriela responded defiantly, saying, “Threatening a public servant for telling the truth will not intimidate us.” The PCG stated it continues to monitor the situation and remains committed to ensuring the safety of the remaining crew members.
