China mulls rescue operation

• Source: Global Times
• [09:11 October 21 2009]
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By Guo Qiang

Chinese officials vowed Tuesday to make every effort to rescue the 25-man crew aboard a hijacked coal carrier, while the pirates reportedly threatened to start killing if any rescue operation was attempted.

Somali pirates took the Dexinhai on Monday morning in the Indian Ocean.

The latest seizure highlights what many believe to be an aggressive expansion of the pirates' reach as major world powers turn up the heat on such threats with military deployments.

"We are watching the situation closely, and will make every effort to rescue the crew and the hijacked ship," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Tuesday.

The government invited the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau to designate battleships to help with the rescue following failed attempts to contact the carrier by phone and fax, according to China National Radio.

Chinese authorities declined to say whether a naval envoy, on an escort mission against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, would attempt a rescue.

Hassan, an associate of the gang, spoke to Reuters Tuesday by phone from the pirate stronghold of Haradheere and warned against endangering the crew's lives with a rescue operation.

"If they try that, we will execute the whole crew," Hassan was quoted as saying.

The Chinese government did not respond to the threat.