Rescue of blazing boat by frigate seen as PLA statement in East China Sea
Swift action by PLA Navy - after Japanese had offered to assist burning Zhejiang fishing boat - seen as sign of its readiness in East China Sea
A naval frigate came to the rescue of a Zhejiang fishing boat on fire near disputed waters in the East China Sea, shedding light on the People's Liberation Army's readiness to deploy in the region amid the simmering territorial spat with Japan.
It arrived ahead of three Japanese coastguard patrol ships that responded to an earlier request by China for help, according to mainland media and Japan's Kyodo news agency. Xinhua reported six of the 24 people aboard died in the blaze.
Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the presence of the Zhoushan had indicated the PLA's air and sea readiness after Beijing announced the creation of an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in November. The zone includes the disputed Diaoyu Islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan, and has drawn protests from Tokyo.
Xinhua said yesterday that the Zhoushan had received a distress signal at 4.30pm on Friday after a fire broke out on the Chinese fishing boat Zhelingyu 90058.
It said the East Sea Fleet, which oversees the East China Sea, then sent the Zhoushan from a destroyer force patrolling nearby waters to take part in the rescue.