New Delhi, June 10 -- The Chinese Embassy in India on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for their swift and professional rescue efforts following a fire and explosion onboard container vessel MV WAN HAI 503.

The Singapore-flagged ship, en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva, caught fire on June 9 while sailing 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala.

In a post on X, embassy spokesperson Yu Jing confirmed that of the 22 crew members on board, 14 were Chinese nationals and 6 were from Taiwan.

The message of thanks comes amid strained ties between India and China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

Tensions have remained elevated, with diplomatic flashpoints in recent weeks - including India's firm rebuttal ...