New Star incident

The New Star incident was an event that occurred near the eastern port city of Vladivostok, when a Russian warship fired on a Chinese cargo vessel called the New Star.[1] The cargo ship was sunk on February 15, 2009, with Russia and China presenting different stories regarding the incident.

New Star

The New Star (新星 Xīnxīng) was a 5000-ton ship leased by a company based in Hong Kong. At the time of the sinking it was flying a Sierra Leone flag.[1][2] There were 16 crew members, 6 Indonesian and 10 Chinese citizens.[1] The vessel was owned by Tongyu Shipping Zhejiang (浙江通宇船務有限公司) and leased to the Hong Kong based J-Rui Lucky shipping company (香港吉瑞祥（香港）有限公司 Xiānggǎng jí ruìxiáng (Xiānggǎng) yǒuxiàn gōngsī).[2][3]

Incident

Russian media claims

According to the RIA Novosti there were indications that the ship violated the Russian border, while other reports said that the ship had been held earlier for suspected smuggling by Russian authorities and had set sail without permission.[1] Other sources have said the ship had earlier fled the Russian port of Nakhodka where it had been impounded for alleged smuggling.[4]

The agency reported that the ship had earlier been chased by two Russian coast guard vessels, but refused to stop despite being fired upon.[1]

Chinese J-Rui(吉瑞祥) claims

According to a written statement by the Hong Kong based J-Rui Lucky Shipping company(吉瑞祥):

The New Star had never been involved in smuggling. The story the Russia authorities fed to the press is a cover-up that turns black into white. Their account does not mention the fact that their warship fired on our cargo ship. What they are portraying as a rescue was in fact an act of murder."[5]

According to J-Rui the New Star delivered 4,978 tons of rice from Thailand to the Russian port of Nakhodka on January 29, 2009. But the Russian buyer refused to accept the rice because of quality concerns, suspended the unloading, and asked for damages of US$330,000.[5] The New Star was detained at the port for several days, but on February 11 the unloading process restarted and was completed later the same day. The Russian agent did not cooperate in helping the New Star complete departure procedures. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to obtain customs clearance, the Tongyu Shipping Company instructed the captain to set sail on the evening of February 12.[5]

On February 13 according to the J-Rui account, the Russian authorities sent coastal guard vessels to pursue the New Star, on the grounds that it had not received permission to leave port. A survivor account describes how a Russian warship fired on the cargo ship for several hours using artillery and heavy machine guns, severely damaging its hull.[5] The Russian patrol then ordered the New Star back to Nakhodka despite the damages. At 3:06 AM on February 15, 2009 the ship sank.[5]

Result

The warship fired 500 rounds at the cargo vessel, sinking it in Russian waters near the eastern port city of Vladivostok.[1] The RIA Novosti said crew members attempted to escape in two life-rafts after their ship was sinking. Only half of them were rescued by a Russian vessel.[1] According to Xinhua News Agency, 7 sailors were still missing and only 3 were rescued.[1]

Official Chinese government responses

On Feb 20, 2009 the official Xinhua news agency reported that China's foreign ministry's Zhang Xiyun, director-general for the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs, said "the attitude of the Russian foreign ministry is hard to understand and unacceptable."[6]

Official Xinhua news agency also reported that China's Vice Foreign Minister Li Hui told Russia's ambassador "The Chinese side expresses shock and deep concern over this incident, We call on the Russian side to begin with a humanitarian spirit... and continue to make all efforts to find the missing personnel."[6]

Official Russian government response

Russian diplomat spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said "We took exhaustive measures to stop the boat: the border guards fired warning shots, but the New Star continued on its way without reacting to the orders."[6]

He expressed regret over the incident but said “We regret the tragic consequences of this incident, however we consider the captain of the New Star, who behaved extremely irresponsibly, is fully to blame for the incident.”[6]

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See also
  • United Nations Flight 544 shootdown

References
  1. NYtimes. "NYtimes.com." Chinese Officials Protest Sinking of Ship by Russians. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
  2. Sina.com. "Sina.com." 媒體披露俄邊防軍開火擊沉貨船 有中國船員失蹤. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
  3. Shanghaidaily.com. "Shanghaidaily.com." China questions Russia on sea attack that sank cargo vessel. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
  4. Google.com. "Google.com." China slams Russian attitude to sunken ship: report. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
  5. China.org.cn. "China.org.cn." Ship owner: Russians fired on us. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
  6. Sinodaily.com. "Sinodaily.com." China slams Russian attitude to sunken ship: report. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.

Additional sources
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