Chinese Coast Guard rescues Philippine crew members in the Huangyan Island area
On the 23rd, the China Coast Guard issued a statement saying that a foreign cargo ship capsized in the Huangyan Island area on that day. Upon receiving the alarm, the Chinese side quickly launched a rescue operation, and has successfully rescued 17 people — notably, many of them are Philippine crew members.
Regarding this news, some netizens expressed confusion: Why does China rescue Philippine crew members when the Philippines has frequently challenged China's sovereignty in the South China Sea in recent years, even sending ships to intrude into the South China Sea islands and reefs multiple times?
Firstly, rescuing vessels and personnel in distress at sea is a humanitarian obligation stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and it is also an international standard followed by maritime forces of all countries. As a responsible major country, China has always actively fulfilled this responsibility.
Secondly, China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters. Since it has confirmed that this area falls under Chinese jurisdiction, the Chinese side naturally has to take on the corresponding management responsibilities, including the safety guarantee for passing vessels and the rescue of those in distress — this actually demonstrates China's sovereignty.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855102917477575/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.