Why has China turned a blind eye to the Humanitarian crisis involving Indian sailors in its ports?

• 39 Indian sailors on two cargo vessels — MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia — have been stranded in waters off the Chinese ports of Jingtang and Caofeidian in the northern province of Hebei since June.
• Though the humanitarian crisis seems to be the fallout of the China-Australia trade war, there are indications that China is delaying a resolution due to the stand-off with the Indian army in Ladakh into which it intruded.
• China has said that there was no “link” between the situation of Indian crew on two stranded ships at Chinese ports and its strained relations with India and Australia.
• China has refused permission to the crew of the two cargo ships to de-board and enters China citing the Covid-19 protocol.
• However, several other cargo ships, which had entered the Chinese coasts after the Indian ships had arrived have actually managed to discharge cargo and leave.
• India has questioned the Chinese authorities’ decision to not allow the ships to leave the ports and has taken up the issue with China at various levels.

What led to the crisis?

39 Indian sailors on two cargo vessels — MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia — have been stranded in waters off the Chinese ports of Jingtang and Caofeidian in the northern province of Hebei since June. Bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand with 23 Indian sailors is on anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since June 13. Another vessel, MV Anastasia with 16 Indian nationals as its crew, is on anchorage near Caofeidian port in China since September 20. Both the vessels are waiting for discharge at the respective ports.

The humanitarian crisis seems to be the fallout of the China-Australia trade war. The ties between Australia and China in the past few months nose-dived after Canberra barred Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies from its national 5G network over national security concerns. China has strongly objected to Australia’s push for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus since April.

Further, China which has procured coal from Australia has refused the consignment following growing diplomatic hostilities. As a result, over 400 sailors and two million tonnes of coal are stuck on ships off China’s northeast coast. The shipment is spread across 21 bulk carriers and is valued at around $200 million and 15 of the ships have been waiting since June, stranding the crew on board.

The Indian sailors are caught in the crossfire of the China and Australia trade war which is worsening each day and are made to suffer for no fault of theirs.. The ships have not been allowed to discharge their cargo and the crew to disembark either, impacting their mental and physical health. Though the shipping companies have made alternative arrangements for the replacement of the crew, the Chinese authorities are blocking it.

A report by ANI in November had said the Indian crew members on board were seeking help from the Indian government to return home, and some are suffering from health issues and the ship is running short of medicines, the report said.

What is China’s response?

China has not responded to the humanitarian crisis involving Indian sailors with the urgency it requires. The crisis has been brewing for seven months now but China has delayed a resolution citing quarantine measures over COVID19 but observers think that it may have to do with Chinese intrusion into Indian territory in Ladakh and the stand-off with the Indian army.

In mid-December, China said that there was no “link” between the situation of Indian crew on two stranded ships at Chinese ports and its strained relations with India and Australia. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing a few weeks ago that China has stayed in close communication with the Indian side and responding to their requests as well as providing necessary assistance for them. “As to whether this has anything to do with the bilateral relations, I don’t see any link,” he had claimed.

Despite these claims, China has refused permission to the crew to de-board and enter China citing the Covid-19 protocol. It is to be noted that several other cargo ships, which had entered the Chinese coasts after the Indian ships had arrived have actually managed to discharge cargo and leave. This gives rise to a suspicion that the treatment being meted out to the Indian crew may be linked to the ongoing border tensions.

What is India doing to solve the standoff?

India has taken up the issue with China at various levels. India’s External Affairs Ministry earlier this month said that there is a considerable amount of stress on the crew members on account of this unprecedented situation. “Our Embassy in Beijing has been in constant touch with provincial and central government authorities in China, requesting that the ships be allowed to dock and/or the crew be allowed to be changed,” he said.

India has questioned the Chinese authorities’ decision to not allow the ships to leave the ports. “We understand that some other ships, which arrived after the Indian ships arrived, have actually managed to discharge cargo and leave. The reasons for this are not clear,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said at a news briefing.

Why is the crisis significant geopolitically?
   
The crisis involving Indian sailors on the Chinese coasts is significant geopolitically as an authoritarian regime has locked horns with two democracies and trying to arm-twist them to further its agenda. The crisis is also a reminder for the democracies of the world with stakes in the region to collectively counter China’s growing aggression and territorial hegemony in the region.

Apart from the violation of labor codes and human rights, the blockade has also halted the movement of other ships in the maritime corridor, affecting global supply chains. It appears that Beijing is using the crisis to arm-twist Australia and India since both the nations have joined the United States and Japan to become part of the new grouping—Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).

Apart from the QUAD, many more democratic forces with mutual interests and concerns must form an alliance to contain China’s expansionist designs in the long run.