Indian Navy rescues critically injured Chinese sailor

The Indian Navy airlifted a critically injured Chinese sailor from the Zhong Shan Men, which was sailing approximately 370 kilometers from Mumbai, officials reported on Wednesday.

On July 23, the city’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Center received a distress call from the Chinese ship requesting immediate evacuation for a 51-year-old sailor who had sustained an injury leading to blood loss, as reported.

A helicopter from the Indian Navy’s INS Shikra air station was dispatched for the rescue mission. The operation was complicated by challenging weather conditions, including winds over 45 knots and heavy rolling of the ship, as well as the non-availability of a continuous deck, the navy stated. Despite these obstacles, the patient was successfully airlifted from the bridge wing of the vessel and transported to the air station, then transferred to a hospital for medical treatment.

An Indian Coast Guard vessel nearby was also diverted to the Chinese carrier to provide assistance.

This incident occurred days after an Indian warship rescued eight Indians and a Sri Lankan national when a Comoros-flagged oil tanker, the MT Falcon Prestige, capsized off the coast of Oman.

India has been expanding its naval presence in the Arabian Sea region amid increased piracy and violent drone attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea as Middle East tensions rise. India has re-launched 2019’s Operation Sankalp to ensure the safe transit of Indian-flagged vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating security concerns.

Notably, India and China have had a tense relationship since June 2020, when troops clashed in the disputed Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas, causing casualties on both sides. Earlier this month, New Delhi and Beijing agreed to "redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels" to find an "early resolution" to longstanding border disputes.