NEW DELHI (CU)_India has become entangled in Australia’s trade dispute with China, as politicians, human rights groups and media outlets in New Delhi are urging the Chinese government to release dozens of Indian sailors trapped in ships stranded off Chinese ports.
Around 70 ships laden with Australian coal, but crewed by foreign seafarers including Indian sailors, have been waiting at Chinese ports for months, as officials from Beijing have refused to let them unload, while Chinese importers are demanding the ships wait nonetheless.
The Times Group, India’s largest media conglomerate, has launched a campaign on behalf of around 40 Indian seafarers trapped in two of these vessels, some nearing two years onboard as part of voyages.
“Ever since we came to [the port of] Jingtang, the conditions of the crew and everyone are deteriorating,” one such stranded sailor told Indian TV. “It’s horrible. We can’t sleep at night, it’s so cold.”
He added that the circumstances are affecting the mental health of the crew, and developing other health concerns such as skin problems, high blood pressure and diabetes.
“I’ve completed 18 months here [on the ship] … My daughter was born last year. I am yet to see her. Please help me,” another seafarer pleaded.
Meanwhile, India’s Human Rights Commission issued a statement on New Year’s Day, accusing Beijing of violating international law by keeping these sailors trapped in the vessels.
“It appears that the rights to life, dignity, equality and liberty of Indian seafarers have been trampled down by a member nation of United Nations,” the commission said.
Like Australia, India also has a tensed relationship with China, as a result of the recent clashes at the countries’ shared border, followed by India’s ban on Chinese apps, as well as concerns over China’s rather aggressive foreign policy.
However, the two countries have been trying to improve relations in the recent months, and experts say the damage to India is most likely unwelcome to China, since it broadens Beijing’s base of critics.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, Wang Wenbin, has blamed the shipping companies for keeping the vessels at Chinese ports and for not permitting crew changes owing to the risk of Coronavirus transmission.
Nevertheless, the Indian Foreign Ministry is urging for a crew change either at sea, or on shore in China, or at a port in a third country. “We expect that this assistance will be provided in an urgent, practical and time-bound manner, given the grave humanitarian situation that is developing on board the ships,” a spokesperson for the ministry, Anurag Srivastava, said.
