NEW DELHI: A day after Indian navy appreciated a co-ordinated effort of both Indian and PLA Navy in rescuing a cargo ship hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the Chinese government took full credit of the rescue mission and edited out India’s role in a joint operation.
On Sunday, the ministry of defence here in the national capital issued a statement by saying that Indian and Chinese navies worked together in responding to a distress signal from the hijacked Tuvaluan ship.
Statement issued by the Indian navy claim that in a show of international maritime cooperation against piracy, a boarding party from the nearby Chinese Navy ship went on board the merchant ship, while the Indian Naval helicopter provided air cover for the operation. All 19 Filipino crew members were safe and the Captain of the merchant vessel profusely thanked the Indian Naval ships for their response and for providing air cover.
But, Chinese navy statement last night omitted any reference to the Indian Navy in providing helicopter cover to the Chinese vessel whose special forces boarded the Tuvaluan ship under hijack, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the operation demonstrated "effectiveness of the Chinese naval force in the field of fighting against pirates".
Immediately after Chinese foreign office statement, Indian navy spokesperson on Monday afternoon tweeted a picture of Indian helicopters hovering over the hijacked vessel. "Indian Navy Chetak Helicopter on top of PLA Navy boats carrying boarding party to MV OS35 in coordinated anti-piracy ops @SpokespersonMoD". Navy tweeted.
A defence minister officer in New Delhi was surprised with the Beijing reaction. “It sounds strange, especially when we have appreciated the joint operation. Joint operation is visible in pictures available related to rescue effort,” an officer located in South Block told.
Chinese foreign Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying reportedly said "The fleet vessel Yulin set out for the area immediately and rescue operation started early morning on April 9. Under the cover of helicopters, special force members of the navy boarded the ship and rescued 19 (Filipino) crew members on broad. Both the ship and the crew members are safe now," But she did not mention the assistance the Indian Navy provided to the Chinese navy in the operation. In fact, went on to say that the operation demonstrated "effectiveness of the Chinese naval force in the field of fighting against pirates."
In contrast, on Sunday, Indian navy’s statement said that “An Indian Navy helicopter undertook aerial reconnaissance of the merchant vessel... to sanitise the upper decks of the merchant ship and ascertain the location of pirates, if still on board," a statement from the Defence Ministry said.
Emboldened by the helicopter cover and on receiving the all-clear signal that no pirates were visible on the upper decks, some crew members gradually emerged from the strong room. They searched the ship and confirmed that the pirates had fled overnight.
A boarding party from the nearby Chinese Navy ship then arrived on the merchant ship, while the Indian Naval helicopter provided air cover for the rescue operation. "It has been established that all 19 Filipino crew members are safe," the statement added. The bulk carrier, OS 35, was travelling from Kelang in Malaysia to the port city of Aden in Yemen when it came under attack from Somali pirates on Saturday night.
According to the Indian Navy, its warships INS Mumbai, INS Tarkash, INS Trishul and INS Aditya responded to a distress call from a foreign merchant vessel MV OS 35 (Tuvalu registered vessel), which was attacked and boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Aden late night on 08 April. The Indian Navy ships were proceeding on deployment to the Mediterranean and rapidly closed the merchant vessel by the early hours of April 9.