via AP/ Yahoo News, 30 May 2023: A Chinese barge detained in Malaysian waters is accused of illegally salvaging two war graves, the shipwrecks of the HMS Repulse and the Prince of Wales, two vessels that were sunk during World War II. A roundup of news stories is linked below.
Malaysia’s maritime agency says a detained Chinese barge likely plundered two World War II British shipwrecks in the South China Sea after discovering 100 old artillery shells on it.
Malaysian media reported that illegal salvage operators are believed to have targeted the HMS Repulse and the HMS Prince of Wales, which were sunk in 1941 by Japanese torpedoes days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
A total of 842 sailors perished, and the shipwrecks off the coast of Malaysia’s central Pahang state are designated war graves.
Source: Chinese barge likely plundered WWII shipwreck: Malaysia
See also:
- Authorities Detain Chinese Ship Suspected of Salvaging U.K. WWII Wrecks | USNI News, 30 May 2023
- Crew of Chinese ‘grave robber’ vessel suspected of looting British WW2 shipwrecks are quizzed by police after their ship is raided off Malaysia and unexploded shells are found on board | Daily Mail, 30 May 2023
- Malaysia investigates Chinese ship over looting of British WWII wrecks | Radio Free Asia, 30 May 2023
- Malaysia investigates possible looting of sunken British World War II ships | Alaska Commons, 30 May 2023
- Alleged warship graverobbers detained in Malaysia | Defence Connect, 31 May 2023
- Chinese vessel accused of looting U.K. warships that sank after Pearl Harbor | Washington Post, 31 May 2023
- Malaysia Accuses Chinese Barge of Looting World War II-Era Shipwrecks | War History Online, 31 May 2023
- WWII grave robbers on the loose in SE Asian waters | Asia Times, 31 May 2023
- Chinese vessel suspected of looting wrecked WWII battleships detained by Malaysia in South China Sea | New York Post, 31 May 2023
- Chinese ship held in Malaysia after removing arms from sunk WWII ship | Malaysia Sun, 03 Jun 2023
