Thursday, February 19 09:31 am

Reuters

 

 

China called on Russia on Thursday to explain how a Chinese cargo ship sank in Russian waters after reports it was fired on by the Russian military. Skip related content

 

Seven Chinese sailors were missing after the "New Star" sank on Saturday in stormy seas off Vladivostok and after a Russian warship shot at least 500 rounds into it, the official China Daily newspaper said, quoting a Chinese-language paper which in turned quoted a Russian newspaper.

 

The "New Star" was held at the Russian port of Nakhodka earlier this month, suspected of involvement in smuggling, before it left without permission last week, the China Daily said.

 

"China has already made representations to the Russian side," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference.

 

"We hope they continue with the search and rescue operations for the missing sailors and clarify the reason (for the incident) as soon as possible."

 

China says three Chinese crew members were rescued and seven were missing.

 

In video footage of the incident broadcast on Russian television, the rattle of gunfire could be heard, with authorities there claiming the ship was given adequate warning.

 

"The 'New Star' captain was called by radio, border guard boats sent light signals, a special flag demanding to stop was raised and a warning shot was fired," a prosecutor in Nakhodka, Alexander Selentsov, told Russia's Interfax news agency.

 

Interfax also quoted a border guard captain as saying "the foreign vessel disregarded authorities' demands and was fleeing to the Chinese economic zone at a full speed."

 

Relations between Beijing and Moscow have warmed up considerably under Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a proponent of a strong centralised state who has visited China several times.

 

In addition to their communist heritage, the two countries share a long, though sparsely populated border.

 

(Reporting by James Pomfret in Hong Kong and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Nick Macfie and Valerie Lee)

Not necessarily directly related, but of similar concern ...

 

From RIA Novosti

 

Russian Navy officials suspected of trying to smuggle arms to China

20:45 | 25/ 02/ 2009

 

MOSCOW, February 25 (RIA Novosti) - A group of Russian Navy officials are suspected of attempting to smuggle 30 anti-submarine missiles and 200 airplane bombs worth a total of $18 million to Tajikistan for sale to China.

 

Russia's chief military prosecutor, Sergei Fridinsky, said a criminal case had been opened and an investigation was ongoing, adding that the smugglers included a number of businessmen.

 

A Navy spokesman confirmed the statement, adding that the consignment had been listed in a customs declaration as "de-commissioned, recycled ammunition."

 

Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said the smuggling operation was prevented by "the Navy, in conjunction with the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Security Service (FSB)."

 

According to some media reports, high-ranking Navy officials, including vice admirals and rear admirals, may have been involved in the scheme.