On March 17 at 19:30, Minister of Transport Yang Chuantang presided over the 3rd emergency consultation meeting on the maritime search and rescue of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight and the 15th meeting of the emergency response leading group at the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center to deploy subsequent search and rescue operations.
Yang Chuantang emphasized that search and rescue remains the top priority. It is essential to conscientiously implement the important instructions of the central leadership, strengthen command and coordination, and promptly determine the specific search and rescue areas for Chinese vessels. In accordance with the requirements of "splitting into two groups, advancing steadily, and pushing forward with the search," the second phase of search and rescue work must be carried out with greater speed and a steadier pace.
The meeting decided that starting from 8:00 on March 18, all Chinese vessels on standby in the Gulf of Thailand will depart for the temporary assembly point in Singapore. After making necessary preparations, they will split into two groups and head to the designated northern and southern areas, respectively, to carry out search and rescue operations. The northern area is located in the southeastern waters of the Bay of Bengal; the southern area is located in the waters near the Sunda Strait.
The China Maritime Search and Rescue Center is intensifying communication and coordination with Malaysian maritime search and rescue agencies to formulate a detailed search plan overnight. At the same time, it will continue to coordinate with passing Chinese merchant ships to strengthen lookouts and actively participate in the search and rescue work.
