Xie Hangsheng, (R) deputy foreign minister, meets with Malaysian ambassador Datuk Iskandar Bin Sarudin (L) last night, demanding Malaysia to provide satellite data which led to its judgement that flight MH370 ended in the Indian Ocean. [photo / fmprc.gov.cn] |
China has demanded Malaysia to provide satellite data which led to its judgement that flight MH370 ended in the Indian Ocean, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng said on Monday night.
"We demand the Malaysian side to make clear the specific basis on which they come to this judgement," Xie said during an urgent meeting with Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Iskandar Bin Sarudin in Beijing.
He demanded the Malaysian side to provide all information and evidence related to the analysis of satellite data.
Xie urged Malaysia to continue all the relevant work including search and rescue for the missing plane, which carried 239 people.
Xie emphasized that the search and rescue work must not stop at the moment.
Chinese maritime authorities said late Monday night China will send more vessels to the waters of the southern Indian Ocean to search and salvage wreckage of Malaysia Airline MH370. China has already sent some six vessels to the area where two Chinese IL-76 aircraft are scouring the rough seas for the missing plane that carried 154 Chinese passengers.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Monday that new analysis of satellite data suggested that the missing plane "ended" in the southern Indian Ocean.
The plane went missing about one hour after takeoff from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing on March 8.
During the meeting with Sarudin, Xie said China pays great attention to Malaysia's announcement that the missing plane ended in the Indian Ocean.
"We have noticed that the Malaysian side said it will make further elaboration on related details," Xie said.