A Japanese patrol ship from the Japan Coast Guard rendered assistance to the Chinese oceanographic research vessel “Science” sailing in the southern waters of Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture. It was reported that there was a crew member with a serious hand injury on the Chinese vessel.
On Friday (May 30th), the Japanese Embassy in China reposted on the social media platform X, a post, photos, and videos released by the Japan Coast Guard regarding the rescue of the Chinese scientific research vessel.
According to Japanese media reports on Friday, the Japan Coast Guard stated that on Thursday (28th) at 12:30 local time, while sailing 526 kilometers southeast of Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, the “Science” requested assistance from the Japan Coast Guard, reporting that a crew member had suffered a serious hand injury during operations, with his right thumb severed.
At 12:40, the Japan Coast Guard dispatched a patrol ship, the “Shigira” (SHIGIRA) to the rescue. The 43-year-old Chinese crew member who was rescued was later transferred to a Naha City Fire Department ambulance. It was reported that the man was not in life-threatening condition.
Japanese officials stated on Monday that another Chinese oceanographic scientific research vessel, the “Kaiyang” had conducted operations in the waters east of Okinotori, the southernmost Japanese island, without Japan’s approval. This area falls within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Tokyo lodged a protest with Beijing over the incident.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded at a routine press conference on Tuesday by stating that Okinotori is a reef, not an island, and conversely accused Japan of violating international law by claiming an exclusive economic zone based on the Okinotori Reef.
Coincidentally, the vessel “Science” had been halted by the Japan Coast Guard in December 2019 for sailing in the exclusive economic zone of Okinotori without permission from the Japanese government under the pretext of conducting research activities.