BEIJING, China (CCTV) — China’s National Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the Chinese navy is assisting the search and rescue of a United States navy sailor reported overboard in the South China Sea.
The Defense Ministry said that China will follow the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea and cooperate with the US navy to help rescue the sailor.
The sailor could not be accounted for on the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem around 09:00 Tuesday, according to a statement from the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
According to an official, the missing sailor had checked in aboard the ship shortly before his disappearance.
A search and rescue operation is underway, with the assistance of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami and helicopter carrier Izumo, said the US Pacific Fleet.
