The China Coast Guard (CCG) carried out an emergency rescue operation on Friday after an foreign cargo vessel carrying 21 Philippine crew members capsized in waters northwest of China's Huangyan Dao, with 13 people rescued so far, according to an official release. Global Times learned exclusively that the operation involved the CCG's Dongsha and Sanmen ships, with the latter having previously participated in the rescue of eight South Korean fishermen.

At 1:34 am on Friday, the CCG received a report from the Sansha maritime search and rescue center in South China's Hainan Province that a foreign cargo vessel had capsized 55 nautical miles northwest of China's Huangyan Dao, with 21 Filipino crew members on board. Following the incident, the CCG immediately dispatched two coast guard vessels to the scene to carry out search and rescue operations. As of now, 13 people have been rescued, and rescue efforts are still ongoing, the CCG said on Friday.

Global Times learned exclusively from a source on Friday that the two CCG vessels involved in the rescue operation were the Dongsha and Sanmen ships. At the time of the incident, both vessels were conducting routine duty and patrol operations in waters near Huangyan Dao. After receiving a notification from the Sansha maritime search and rescue center in Hainan Province, the two vessels immediately rushed to the site to carry out emergency rescue operations.

The Sanmen ship, which participated in the latest rescue mission, has previously been involved in multiple rescue operations involving foreign vessels and is widely regarded as a "guardian at sea." On May 13, 2025, the South Korean Jeju-based fishing vessel "887 EOJIN" encountered danger in waters of the East China Sea. After receiving the distress call, the CCG promptly dispatched the Sanmen ship, which completed the rescue within two hours and provided medical assistance and transfer support to eight South Korean crew members.

On September 16, 2025, the government of South Korea's Jeju Special Self-Governing Province held an event marking the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of China-South Korea diplomatic relations, during which four law enforcement officers from the Sanmen ship were awarded the title of "honorary citizen of Jeju Island" in recognition of their role in the successful rescue of the eight South Korean fishermen, according to another official release from the CCG on September 17, 2025. 

At the awarding ceremony, Governor of South Korea's Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Oh Young-hun described the rescue as "a vivid example of China-South Korea friendship," saying that the four honorary titles stood as testimony to international humanitarianism and cooperation between the two countries.