Tokyo: The Japan Coast Guard is searching for seven people who went missing following their boat capsized near Senkaku Island, which is claimed by Japan and China. The boat capsized in the Senkaku Islands, an area currently controlled by Tokyo. Keisuke Nakao, a spokesman for the Japanese Coast Guard, said the boat was spotted drifting past the island during a patrol. One Taiwanese and six Indonesians were in the group, he added.
“We have been searching the area with patrol ships and helicopters since we received information from the Maritime Self-Defense Force at 1.30pm on Sunday,” he said.
Nakao also said that Japanese authorities are talking to their counterparts in Taiwan, who claim the Senkaku Islands. Beijing calls the uninhabited area the Diaoyu Islands.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the boat that capsized on Senkaku Island was a Taiwanese-registered fishing boat. The National Rescue Command Center has contacted Taiwanese fishing boats near the accident site to assist in the search. The coast guard of Taiwan and Japan have also dispatched vessels for search and rescue operations, the statement said.
