Taiwan Expresses Gratitude to India for Swift Rescue of Crew from Burning Cargo Ship

Rescue Operation Highlights International Cooperation

New Delhi: Taiwan has expressed its appreciation to India for the successful rescue of 18 crew members from the Singapore-registered cargo ship, WAN HAI 503, which caught fire approximately 70 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala on Wednesday.

Out of the 22 individuals aboard, 18 managed to escape by jumping into the ocean, while the status of the remaining four crew members, who are part of the ship's Fire and Safety Department, is currently being investigated.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India reported that the missing crew includes two Taiwanese nationals, one from Indonesia, and one from Myanmar.

In a statement on X, the Taiwan Government expressed gratitude for the rapid response from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, wishing for the safe return of the missing crew and a swift recovery for the injured.

On June 9, the MV Wan Hai 503 experienced an explosion and fire while located 44 nautical miles from Azhikkal, Kerala. Among the 22 crew members, 14 are Chinese, including six from Taiwan. The spokesperson thanked the Indian Navy and Mumbai Coast Guard for their efficient rescue efforts and expressed hopes for the success of ongoing search operations.

Earlier, Yu Jing, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, also acknowledged India's prompt rescue efforts, noting that 14 of the crew members are Chinese, including two from Taiwan.

In response, Taiwan rejected the Chinese claims as unfounded, asserting that only its democratically elected government has the authority to represent its citizens, not the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center reiterated on Wednesday that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other, emphasizing that the CCP has never governed Taiwan.

The WAN HAI 503, measuring 270 meters in length with a draught of 12.5 meters, had set sail from Colombo on June 7 and was headed to Mumbai.

On Monday, the Indian Navy, in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard, DG Shipping, and other entities, successfully rescued 18 of the 22 crew members during a coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) operation.

According to the Indian Navy spokesperson, the vessel reported an internal explosion of a container, which led to a significant fire on board.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) also commended the Indian authorities for their quick action in recovering the crew and supporting the ongoing SAR efforts.