China Says It ‘Will Not Forget’ Indian Military’s Rescue Of 12 Chinese Crew After Cargo Ship Fire
China’s newly appointed Defence Attache to India, Rear Admiral You Jian, has thanked the Indian military for rescuing 12 Chinese crew members from a cargo ship that caught fire and exploded off the coast of Kerala last June, saying Beijing “will not forget” the operation.
Speaking at a reception marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), You also called for closer communication and cooperation between the armed forces of India and China as ties between the two countries continue to improve.
“We will not forget that, last June, the Indian Military rescued 12 Chinese crew members from a cargo ship that caught fire and exploded off the coast of Kerala,” You said.
His remarks come as India and China continue efforts to improve bilateral relations following meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as subsequent talks between senior officials from both countries.
#WATCH | Delhi: On the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Defence Attaché of the People’s Republic of China Rear Admiral You Jian says, “The Indian military rescued 12 Chinese crew members from a cargo ship that caught fire and exploded off… pic.twitter.com/h84CHgelvq
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026
According to You, the two sides have held constructive and forward-looking discussions aimed at gradually normalising relations.
The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard jointly carried out the rescue operation after the cargo ship caught fire and exploded off Kerala’s coast, safely evacuating all 12 Chinese crew members.
Addressing the gathering, You described India and China as important neighbours that are both at a critical stage of development and rejuvenation.
“We are pleased to see that, under the strategic guidance of our leaders, China-India relations have returned to the correct path of improvement and development,” he said.
The Chinese Defence Attache said Beijing was willing to deepen military engagement with India by maintaining communication through diplomatic and military channels, building mutual trust and promoting cooperation through dialogue.
Quick response by @IndiaCoastGuard after explosion on #Singapore flagged MV #WANHAI503, 130 NM NW of #Kerala coast.
#ICG aircraft assessed the scene & dropped air-droppable
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) June 9, 2025
You also referred to the role of the two countries’ armed forces in United Nations peacekeeping missions, saying both had made significant contributions and sacrifices.
“We need to remember that both the Chinese and Indian armed forces have made outstanding contributions and great sacrifices in UN peacekeeping operations. We have always believed that the common interests between our two countries far outweigh our differences,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, You said he hoped China-India relations would continue to improve. His comments come as India and China continue talks to gradually improve bilateral relations.
References: newsonair, ndtv
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