Four crew members of a Chinese fishing vessel sunk by the Argentinian Coast Guard have been released, according to the Chinese Embassy in Argentina.
The decision was made by an Argentinian court after the four made statements and the coast guard provided video of the incident, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing an embassy press release.
The Chinese vessel Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 was operating in Argentine fishing grounds when it was fired upon by the Argentine coast guard, which caused a leak in the hull and led to its sinking on March 14, according to Lu Kang, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson.
The four, including the captain, were rescued by the Argentinian coast guard and arrested for illegal fishing and resisting arrest, according to Xinhua.
Thirty-two crew members were on board and 28 others were saved by nearby Chinese fishing vessels.
There were no reports of casualties.
China's foreign ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Argentina have lodged urgent representations with Argentina, urging Argentina to ensure the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese crew, and take effective measures to avoid any repetition of such an incident, Lu told a conference in March.
Susana Malcorra, Argentinian foreign minister, said she hopes the incident will not affect bilateral ties and has vowed to handle the incident in line with domestic and international laws, Xinhua reported.
