Is freedom for the 39 Indian sailors, stranded in Chinese waters for several months, anytime near? India has stepped up its efforts to parley with the Chinese authorities on the release of these seamen, who are aboard two ships, MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia. The ships are caught in a trade war between China and Australia, after China banned import of Australian coal. Both ships were ferrying coal from Australia to China. While Jag Anand is in anchorage off Jintang port since last June, Anastasia is stuck off Caofeidian port since September.
“Our ambassador [Vikram Misri] has again taken up this issue with the Chinese vice foreign minister and requested early approval for crew change for Indian crew members ...,'' said Anurag Srivastava, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesman, during his weekly briefing on Friday. He said that in view of China's strict COVID-19 pandemic control and prevention measures as well as various travel restrictions in place, the Chinese authorities have outlined detailed steps to ensure the smooth movement of new crew to China to effect the crew change.
“These steps have to be complied to by the shipping companies concerned,'' Srivastava said. He said that India has also suggested exploring alternative modes of crew change at sea and that the Chinese have indicated the the details for these options are being worked out. “We are awaiting these details from the Chinese authorities,'' he said.
Although the Chinese authorities recently issued a statement denying that the ship crew was being made scapegoat in the ongoing border tension between India and China, there are clear indications that some vessels have been singled out. The MEA had itself said, at a previous briefing some weeks ago, that ships which had arrived in Chinese ports after these two ships had been allowed to berth, offload their cargo and sail out. The MEA had said the “reasons for this are unknown''. The Chinese authorities have not allowed the ships to sail out, either.
Recently, some videos had emerged showing the condition of the sailors on board the two vessels, where the men described their poor living conditions, with restricted fresh supplies. “We will continue to remain in touch with various relevant Chinese authorities as well as shipping companies to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the crew are taken care of and that crew changes can be effected at the earliest,'' Srivasatava said.
Meanwhile, the two armies are maintaining a wary peace along the border while the date for the next round of senior commander meeting is being fixed. According to the ministry, the two sides are in constant communication through military and diplomatic channels to “avoid any misunderstandings and misjudgments even as discussions continue for achieving complete disengagement in all friction areas in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements to restore peace and tranquility,'' said the MEA statement.
