A Chinese fishing boat sank shortly after colliding with a Greek cargo ship on the high seas near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea early Thursday, the Japan Coast Guard said according to newsonjapan.com.

The collision occurred following increased activities in recent days by Chinese ships in waters close to the Japan-controlled, China-claimed territory.

A coast guard patrol ship rescued six crew members of the Minjinyu 05891 and searched for eight others missing following its collision with the freighter Anangel Courage about 65 kilometers off Uotsuri Island, the largest in the Senkaku group of islets, just past 5 a.m., it said.

The 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters received a distress signal from the 106,727-ton freighter bound for Australia from China and sent a patrol boat and a plane to the site. 

Weather conditions in the area were poor at the time.

Source: MENA