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| 等 级：正式居民 |
| 经 验 值：240 |
| 魅 力 值：24 |
| 龙 币：125 |
| 积 分：145.5 |
| 注册日期：2009-10-20 |
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人民网的英文报道，非常有意思
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6790222.html
The fate of the 25 captive crew members aboard a Chinese bulk carrier hijacked in the Indian Ocean is still unknown following officials' vows to make every effort to rescue them, while their plight has turned the spotlight on how to carry out a daring rescue at sea without putting the crew at risk.
Somali pirates, who threatened to execute the entire crew if China attempts any rescue operation, have placed China in a dilemma of choosing a military rescue or paying the ransom, an international common practice, to seek the crew's release.
Chinese authorities kept tight-lipped Wednesday over the progress of the situation, while a government source told the Global Times that China hadn't dispatched the naval envoy currently patrolling the Gulf of Aden to round up pirates.
This counters earlier reports that three naval vessels were on their way and could rendezvous with the cargo ship and the Somali gunmen 700 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia today.
The Chinese Navay had an emergency meeting in Beijing Wednesday, the source said, without revealing details.
The pirates hijacked the Chinese coal carrier, the Dexinhai, Monday morning in the Indian Ocean.
John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU Navfor Maritime Patrol, told the Global Times Wednesday that the hijacked carrier has now moved to a position 650 nautical miles from Somalia.
The China Marine Search and Rescue Center said the crew are temporarily safe and ruled out any possibility of the crew having no access to water and food in the hands of pirates, as stores onboard should be sufficient, while, saying, the ship would run out of fuel after a month.
One of the captive seamen is surnamed Sun, and is in his 50s, the Wuhan Evening Newspaper reported Wednesday. Sun's family has appealed to the government for an early rescue operation, but such action may endanger the crew's lives.
Yin Gang, an expert in African studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), said a military operation is not a reliable choice, as it would endanger the hostages aboard.
He said deploying warships in another country's territory without approval from its government is strictly prohibited by international law.
Chen Yulai, another African studies expert at the CASS, suggested that the release of the crew could possibly be achieved through negotiations with tribal elders of the pirates.
Somali pirates always have connections with local tribes, where the elders might have an influence on the pirates, Chen said, adding that Chinese diplomats in Kenya could use their connections with Somali tribal elders to negotiate with the pirates.
The Ministry of Transport said Wednesday that the ship's communication equipment is likely in the hands of the pirates, as attempts to contact the carrier by phone and fax have proved unsuccessful.
The incident has also given rise to the question of who would pay the ransom.
The carrier's owner, Qingdao Ocean Shipping, has paid over $40 million in cargo marine insurance for the ship, according to Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV.
The ransom paid for hijacked ships in the Gulf of Aden averages $1.5 million to $1.8 million, according to Phoenix TV.
The paying of ransoms for hijacked ships has fueled the pirates' greed, as in recent years ransoms have soared from $100,000 to $20 million, paid to free a Ukrainian ship in 2008.
The hijacking comes in the wake of 47 such attacks during the first nine months of 2009, up from 12 during the same period last year, while in the Gulf of Aden there were 100 attacks this year compared with 51 in 2008.
Earlier this month, Spanish trawler Alakrana was seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean. The government has decided to release one of two captured suspected Somali pirates because he is a minor, aged just 17.
Zhang Zuyue, secretary-general of the China Shipowners' Association, said Chinese cargo ships have always been provided with knowledge on how to protect themselves based on past international experience and lessons learned.
But he said that hiring "decoy duck" or escort vessels is not feasible for Chinese cargo ships, citing problems related to management and funds.
Source: Global Times
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2009-10-26 11:37:41
