China urges Malaysia to step up its search for missing jetliner
Print Edition
China is urging Malaysia to step up the search for the Malaysia Airlines jetliner that went missing with 239 people on board, including 154 Chinese, and has sent security agents to help with an investigation into the misuse of passports.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said it was too early to know what may have caused the plane to vanish but relatives of the passengers deserved an explanation as soon as possible.
“This incident happened more than two days ago, and we hope that the Malaysians can fully understand the urgency of China, especially of the family members, and can step up the speed of the investigation and increase efforts on search and rescue,” Qin told reporters at a daily news briefing.
However, Qin acknowledged the importance Malaysia attached to dealing with the incident and their sincerity to do all it could.
“The missing plane belongs to the Malaysian airline, so it is reasonable that the Malaysian side takes the major responsibility for the search and rescue work,” Qin said. As there were more than 150 Chinese passengers on board, the Chinese government naturally takes a highly responsible attitude and has gone all-out to join in the process, he said.
China is obliged to ask and urge the Malaysian side to strengthen the search and rescue, step up investigations as soon as possible, inform the Chinese side of the developments accurately and timely, and properly handle the aftermath, Qin said.
China’s Public Security Ministry has sent a team to Malaysia to look into the use of the two stolen passports.
“We cannot identify who are using the passports yet,” Qing said, adding that the incident “should certainly attract our greatest vigilance.”
As they were Italian and Austrian passports, they would not have needed a visa for a stay in Beijing that did not exceed 72 hours, Qin said.
He confirmed that no Chinese citizens’ passports were stolen, saying that previous media reports saying they were had been the result of wrong passport numbers provided by the Malaysian airline.
“As the investigation is still under way, it is too early to jump to a conclusion,” Qin said, calling on the public to keep calm and avoid circulating false information.
Last night a working group sent by the Chinese government arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to handle the aftermath of the missing flight.
The 13-member group is composed of officials with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Guo Shaochun, deputy head of the foreign ministry’s consular affairs department, said at the airport that the group would be starting work immediately.
Earlier, before leaving for Malaysia, he said in Beijing that the working group had planned to coordinate with Malaysia and other countries in the investigation into the plane’s disappearance.
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