... patrol key areas along the Mekong River, offering protection for legal cargo ships from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand...Beijing (ANTARA News/Reuters) - China will launch armed patrols with Southeast Asian neighbours to protect ships along the Mekong River after 13 Chinese sailors were murdered on its upper reaches last month, media reported on Tuesday.
The crew members of two Chinese cargo ships plying the Mekong were attacked on Oct. 5 in the "Golden Triangle", an area where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet that is notorious for drug smuggling.
The deaths triggered a public uproar in China, where the safety of nationals abroad has become an increasingly sensitive topic, and Beijing demanded that its neighbours capture the perpetrators and strengthen safety along the river.
Nine Thai soldiers later turned themselves in over the killing.
The Chinese government has bought five ships that will be refitted for the patrols, said a report on the website of the People's Daily (www.people.com.cn), citing Fang Youguo, general secretary of an association of Chinese shipowners whose vessels use the Mekong.
The boats will "patrol key areas along the Mekong River, offering protection for legal cargo ships from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand", Fang said, according to the report.
China's growing presence in Asia, Africa and other parts of the world has prompted attacks, kidnappings and hijackings, and the issue has become a sensitive one for Chinese officials, who do not want to appear weak in protecting nationals.
The 4,900-km (3,050 mile) Mekong snakes from China into Southeast Asia, where it forms the border between Myanmar and Laos, and then Thailand and Laos. In 2001, the four countries signed an agreement to regularise shipping on the river. (*)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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