Argentina sinks a Chinese fishing boat

No casualties are reported; ministry, embassy express 'serious concerns'

China's Foreign Ministry expressed "serious concerns" on Wednesday over the sinking of a Chinese fishing vessel by the Argentine coast guard and demanded Argentina to thoroughly investigate the incident.

In a news release on the ministry's website, spokesman Lu Kang said the Chinese vessel, Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010, which was operating in Argentine waters on Monday, was chased by the coast guard "for several hours" before it was fired upon. Shots reportedly "caused a leak in the hull and led to its sinking", Lu said.