File photo shows a People’s Liberation Army (Navy) frigate underway during Rim of the Pacific 2014. U.S. Navy Photo
By Adela Lin (Bloomberg) –A Chinese warship collided with a Taiwanese freighter Wednesday evening, damaging the bulk carrier, Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said.
The collision occurred around 20 nautical southeast of Taiwan-controlled Kinmen island off China’s southeast coast, according to a statement from the coast guard. No injuries were reported.
The statement identified the Chinese vessel as a People’s Liberation Army warship. The coast guard said they managed to make contact with the Chinese ship suspected of being involved in the crash but the captain declined to assist in an investigation into the incident.
The incident occurred on an established shipping lane after dark, Chen Chien-wen, a spokesman for the Kinmen Coast Guard, said by phone Thursday. Investigators are looking into how the collision occurred.
The collision comes as China increases pressure on Taiwan ahead of the democratic island’s presidential elections in January. Beijing on Wednesday issued a surprise ban on individual tourists from 47 Chinese cities traveling to Taiwan.
The U.S. has increased its number of transits by its warships through the Taiwan Strait this year, signaling its support for the island in the face of Chinese threats to reclaim Taiwan by force.
–With assistance from Anand Krishnamoorthy.
© 2019 Bloomberg L.P
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 108,979 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
India will hold naval drills with several African nations, the first maritime exercise of this kind, as it tries to counter China’s assertive presence in the Indian Ocean region.
Australia will bring forward A$1 billion in defence spending in Tuesday's federal budget to boost its military capability, including guided weapons manufacture, an AUKUS submarine base and a frigate program, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Monday.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone has completed a major drug interdiction operation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, offloading approximately 45,600 pounds of illicit narcotics valued at over $517.5 million...
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 108,979 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
