China regrets ROK coast guard's death

BEIJING - China regrets the death of a Republic of Korea (ROK) Coast Guard officer during a clash with crewmembers of a Chinese fishing boat in the Yellow Sea, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Two ROK Coast Guard officers clashed on Monday with Chinese fishermen. One person was also injured in the incident.

"It is an unfortunate incident," ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a daily news conference, adding that China regrets the loss of life.

Related authorities from both countries are updating each other and trying to verify the details of the incident as quickly as possible, said the spokesman.

Liu said Beijing is willing to coordinate with Seoul to achieve an appropriate solution.

The ROK's Yonhap News Agency said on Tuesday that the country's Coast Guard accused the Chinese captain of stabbing the 41-year-old officer to death when his boat was caught "illegally fishing" in the Yellow Sea, and it would seek an arrest warrant for the captain.

However, the 42-year-old captain of Chinese fishing boat Luwenyu 15001 denied the accusations during questioning, the Coast Guard officials said.

The Coast Guard also accused the Chinese captain of violating the ROK's exclusive economic zone.

More details are needed to get a clearer picture of the incident, experts said.