THE directors of China's state run shipping line said yesterday they ''would not rule out'' taking legal action against the United States Government in their claim for US$12.93 million (HK$100 million) in damages resulting from the now infamous Yinhe incident.
They also said it was ''absolutely impossible'' for the crew to have unloaded or dumped the alleged cargo of base materials for chemical weapons overboard before the joint inspection in the Saudi port of Damman, as has been claimed by US officials.
Legal action would depend entirely on the ''attitude'' of the US Government with respect to China's demand for a public apology and compensation, said the vice-president of China Ocean Shipping Corporation (COSCO), Dai Qiquan.
''We believe that any government that respects international law will accede to our demands,'' Mr Dai said at COSCO's Beijing headquarters.
''We hope the US will seriously and prudently consider our request before giving us a reply,'' he said.
Should the US administration not accede to the company's demands, Mr Dai said COSCO would consider going through legal channels in order to obtain compensation.
The US$12.93 million claim is based on the direct economic losses caused by the disruption to the Yinhe's scheduled voyage from Tianjin to Kuwait via Jakarta and Dubai, estimated at US$2.93 million, plus US$10 million in damages to COSCO's reputation as a reliable shipping line.
