Collision with Taiwanese ship, two Japanese fishing boats capsized

A boat capsized off the western coast of Japan on February 25, killing one person and leaving another missing.

Two Japanese fishing boats with a total of four people on board collided with the 13,000-ton cargo ship Wan Hai 5 kilometers (3 miles) off Kansai airport in Osaka Bay shortly after dawn, a coast guard official said.

Japanese fishing boat in Osaka Bay - Photo: well.com

“All four people on the two fishing boats were thrown into the sea after the accident, while there is no news of casualties from the Taiwanese vessel,” the coast guard official said. “Two were rescued safely, but one was confirmed dead. We are searching for the fourth person.”

Japan also announced on February 25 that a Chinese government ship had entered waters near the disputed islands between the two countries late last week. The Chinese fishing boat entered waters near the islands, which Japan calls Senkaku and China calls Diaoyu, in the East China Sea at 4:48 p.m. on February 23, 19 kilometers from Uotsuri Island, according to a statement from the Japanese Coast Guard.

But the Chinese ship left after about an hour. The incident occurred as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his first visit to the United States since taking office in December, affirming that he would not accept any provocation to Japan's jurisdiction over the uninhabited islands.

“We simply cannot accept any provocation now or in the future. Countries should not miscalculate and underestimate our resolve,” Mr. Abe said in Washington.

According to Tuoi Tre - DT