A Chinese fishing boat sank after colliding with a Greek-flagged cargo ship near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on Thursday, according to China's foreign ministry.
Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said six crew members of the fishing boat have so far been rescued, and China and Japan have been working together to search for the missing crew members.
The collision occurred about 70 kilometers northwest of the Diaoyu Islands, Hua said.
A ship and a plane were sent to the area after the Japan Coast Guard received a distress signal from the cargo. Weather conditions were poor at the time, according to The Japan Times.
"We hope relevant departments of China and Japan will continue cooperate in the emergency," Hua said.
The Chinese boat was engaged in fishing activities while the Greek ship, which had a crew of 11 Greeks, 10 Filipinos and two Ukrainians, was on its way to Australia from China, Okinawa-based The Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper reported.
More Chinese fishing boats have been spotted near waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands since August 1, when the summer fishing moratorium ended, Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV reported on Thursday.
While they voiced their appreciation for Japan's rescue efforts, Chinese netizens insist on China's territorial sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.
"We must thank the Japan Coast Guard for helping. However, the Diaoyu Islands belong to China," Sina Weibo user Fushi Qinghuan commented.
Some others voiced concern over the close eye Japan keeps on the disputed waters, considering its quick response. "Why did the Japan Coast Guard stay so close to our Diaoyu Islands? China should dispatch more vessels to patrol the waters," another user, Sugeladi Shan, said.
