China urges probe after boat sunk in Argentina waters

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING

One day after a Chinese fishing trawler sank in Argentinian waters after a run-in with the country's coastguard, Beijing has urged effective measures be taken to prevent such incidents happening again.

State news agency Xinhua quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang as demanding Wednesday that Argentina thoroughly investigate the incident while safeguarding Chinese sailors' security and "legitimate rights and interests."

"China urged the Argentine side to take effective measures to prevent such incident from happening again," Lu said.

A statement from Argentina's coastguard released Tuesday said that the vessel -- the Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 -- was followed to international waters after being found illegally fishing in its area of control.

Despite warnings, it said that the ship made moves to hit the coastguard, putting the Argentinian crew at risk.

Xinhua reported that four of crew of the Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 were saved by the coastguard after the boat sank, while 28 others were rescued by a nearby Chinese trawler.

- Anadolu Agency correspondent Hatice Vildan Topaloglu contributed to this story from Ankara

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING

"China urged the Argentine side to take effective measures to prevent such incident from happening again," Lu said.

Despite warnings, it said that the ship made moves to hit the coastguard, putting the Argentinian crew at risk.

Xinhua reported that four of crew of the Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 were saved by the coastguard after the boat sank, while 28 others were rescued by a nearby Chinese trawler.

- Anadolu Agency correspondent Hatice Vildan Topaloglu contributed to this story from Ankara