China-Australia relations: allowing coal ships to dock on humanitarian grounds not seen as softening of import ban
China unofficially stopped importing Australian coal – both thermal coal used for electricity generation and coking coal – in October amid escalating tensions
Eight vessels have been given permission to dock at three northern ports in China on humanitarian grounds with some ships having been at sea since June
We are Ghosts Trapped in a Box : Indian Sailors Stuck in Chinese Waters Desperately Seek Help
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Gaurav Singh, a 28-year-old Pune resident, the second officer on a commercial cargo ship, has not stepped a foot on land for nearly 15 months. Every morning, he flips through news articles online in hope of finding some news. He calls home; his parents try to give him solace. But as night draws closer, his thoughts turn to the same unanswered questions. When could he return home? When would he get to see his mother again? Will he ever be able to get out of this steel box? Gaurav s hopes have now started to dwindle.