China has deployed more than 300 armed police to patrol the Mekong river in boats in collaboration with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos after a deadly attack in October, according to state-run media. Two months ago, 13 Chinese sailors were killed on a section of the river south of China's border, raising concerns in Beijing for the safety of crews and cargoes sailing south through an area rife with drug warfare and smuggling. Citing officials, the official China Daily newspaper said that Chinese police would escort 10 private cargo ships, including the boats that were attacked on October 5 by what is thought to have been a drug gang. "The special force will serve as the first joint-patrol law enforcement team of the national border defense department, committed to safeguarding the international waterway," said public security deputy minister Meng Hongwei. The Mekong flows through China's southwestern province of Yunnan into Southeast Asia, serving as a major trade route through several countries including Cambodia and Vietnam. China reacted angrily to the October attack, sending patrol boats down the Mekong to retrieve 164 stranded Chinese sailors and 28 cargo ships and calling on diplomats from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar to speed up investigations. Since then, police in Thailand have detained nine soldiers who are suspected of killing the Chinese sailors and are also thought to have links with a Myanmar drug kingpin.
GMT 09:34 2018 Thursday ,04 January
S. Korea well prepared if N. Korea attends OlympicsGMT 10:16 2017 Monday ,18 December
Palestinian refugees resist from the sidelinesGMT 17:53 2017 Wednesday ,25 October
Israel approves 176 settlement homes for east JerusalemGMT 08:57 2017 Thursday ,19 October
Israel approves over 2,600 settler homes this week: NGOGMT 07:55 2017 Wednesday ,18 October
Israel says no talks with Palestinian govt that includes armed HamasGMT 15:08 2017 Monday ,16 October
Israel approves Hebron settlement plans for first time since 2002GMT 15:56 2017 Wednesday ,11 October
Israel to advance plans for nearly 4,000 settler homes: officialGMT 09:17 2017 Monday ,21 August
Group of Gazan children get first glimpse of JerusalemMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©