China Coast Guard officers take care of the rescued Vietnamese crewmembers. Photo: CCTV News

Sansha maritime search and rescue authorities confirmed with the Global Times on Monday afternoon that, as of 12:53 pm on Monday, the final two crew members rescued by a China Coast Guard vessel late Sunday night had been safely transferred by helicopter to a Vietnamese vessel.

The authorities also confirmed that as of press time, all 47 Vietnamese crew members rescued by the Chinese side from the sunken vessel have now been successfully transferred.

Detailing the latest rescue operation, a Sansha official told the Global Times that the two Vietnamese crew members were located and successfully rescued by China Coast Guard vessel 4303 at 10:38 pm and 23:32 pm on Sunday. 

When asked to comment on the rescue operation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian remarked during a regular press conference on Monday that on July 25, a Chinese rescue vessel Nanhai Jiu 115 spotted and rescued 29 crew members of a distressed Vietnamese ship in waters near Nansha Qundao. 

 The spokesperson added that the Chinese side immediately sent out several vessels and a helicopter to continue search and rescue operations. Until now, China has rescued 47 Vietnamese crew members. After giving medical treatment to those who are injured, the Chinese side transferred all rescued personnel to the Vietnamese side. The Vietnamese side has expressed thanks to the Chinese side. 

"We have learned that the Vietnamese vessel was carrying 62 crew members when it sank on the night of July 24. The search for those who remain missing is still ongoing," Lin said.

According to the rescued individuals, the distressed vessel was the Vietnamese-flagged ship KHOI NGUYEN 18. The vessel sank after encountering distress on night of July 24 in waters near Yongshu Jiao in the Nansha Qundao. 

Vietnam on Sunday thanked Chinese authorities for their prompt support in search and rescue operations, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Vietnamese authorities launched rescue operations immediately after the incident and coordinated closely with Chinese rescue forces and vessels operating near the scene.

She expressed hope that both sides would continue to coordinate closely in the search for those still missing, according to Xinhua.