A Japanese oil tanker rescued 26 crewmen of a Chinese vessel that sank in the northern Philippines while two other members of the crew remained missing, AP quoted the sources of the coast guard as saying Monday. The M/V Jinshan developed problems and sank late Sunday off the Philippine province of Ilocos Norte, coast guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said. Chinese authorities asked for help from the Philippines, which sent a helicopter to the area, he said. A Japanese tanker in the South China Sea later rescued 26 of the vessel's crew, but two others were still missing, he said. The area is about 440 kilometers (275 miles) north of Manila.
