(The content of this article is based on authoritative sources, and there are literature citation sources at the end of the article)
In 1993, an unusual diplomatic game played out in the hot waters of the Middle East.
A Chinese cargo ship named "Yinhe" became the center of international turmoil because it was groundlessly accused by the United States of carrying chemical weapons materials.
Sha Zukang, a Chinese diplomat, was dispatched to resolve the crisis. Sha Zukang made a bold decision to cut off the ship's air cooler and use the scorching heat to counter the arrogance of the US military, which was not only a confrontation, but also a kind of adherence to the dignity of the country.
Unfounded accusations caused a storm
On an ordinary summer day in 1993, on the sparkling waves of Tianjin New Port, a 10,000-ton container ship "Yinhe" loaded with cargo was preparing to embark on its voyage.
On July 7, the "Yinhe" set sail from Tianjin Xingang, aiming for the Middle East. The cargo loaded on board includes industrial raw materials, machinery and equipment, and some other non-sensitive commercial cargo.
According to the plan, the goods will be unloaded at the port of Dubai and then distributed to partners across the Middle East.
However, the situation changed abruptly on July 23. The United States government suddenly issued a statement accusing the Galaxy of carrying substances that could be used to make chemical weapons, specifically thiodiglycol and thionyl chloride.
United States' accusations lack hard evidence, but its hardline attitude should not be underestimated. Officials from the United States Embassy in China urgently met with the Chinese Foreign Ministry to demand an immediate inspection of the Milky Way.
The U.S. side has taken an extremely tough stance, claiming that if China does not allow inspections, the United States will take its own measures to deal with the problem.
After receiving the notification from the US side, the Chinese Foreign Ministry quickly held internal discussions. The head of the Department of International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials held several meetings to try to find the best way to respond.
The Chinese Government has decided to stick to its principles and not to succumb to unwarranted pressure. In its diplomatic representations with the United States, China stressed that any allegations against the Galaxy must provide solid evidence, otherwise it will not accept any illegal inspection requests.
At the same time, the "Galaxy" was tracked and monitored by United States warships on its way to its destination. From time to time, United States military aircraft and warships appear in the waters near the "Galaxy" to photograph and track it.
In order to cope with this situation, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned Sha Zukang, then deputy director of the Department of International Affairs, to deal with the diplomatic crisis.
Sha Zukang, who has extensive diplomatic experience, immediately set off for Dubai Port, where the "Galaxy" is expected to dock, and is preparing for face-to-face negotiations with the US side.
Stick to the principle and refuse to inspect
In the last few days of July, Sha Zukang had several fierce negotiations with United States representatives. The United States insisted on inspecting the Galaxy, claiming that it was based on international security considerations.
The Chinese side has repeatedly stressed that any such action must be based on clear evidence. During the talks, Sha made it clear that the Chinese government would never accept military intervention or political pressure based on speculation.
At Sha Zukang's insistence, the Chinese government's position has gradually become known to the international community. Repeated talks failed to get the US side to change its demands, but Sha Zukang's uncompromising attitude also allowed China's sovereignty and dignity to be safeguarded.
At the same time, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an internal verification of the situation of the "Yinhe Galaxy" to prove its innocence, and this information was transmitted to the international community in a timely manner.
At the same time, the Galaxy continued its journey at high seas, but was on constant alert due to the threat of United States. Captain Zhang Rude and the crew remained vigilant to ensure the safety of the voyage.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps in touch with the ships through various channels, keeps abreast of the situation and gives the necessary instructions.
In the days that followed, China's diplomatic interaction with the United States came into international focus. In early August, the two sides held another round of high-level talks in Dubai.
During this meeting, the US side softened its position a little and no longer insisted on an immediate inspection of the vessel, but still asked the Chinese side to provide more evidence to prove the innocence of the "Yinhe".
Sha Zukang pointed out that if the United States sincerely considers international security, it should respect China's legal procedures and international judicial principles. He made it clear that China would not budge unless the US side could provide conclusive evidence.
During the tense diplomatic negotiations, Sha Zukang also organized multilateral meetings with diplomats from other countries aimed at explaining the truth about the "Yinhe" incident and seeking broader international support.
Eventually, after a series of complex diplomatic interactions, the United States began to reassess its position. Although it was still skeptical about the "Galaxy", the US side had to temporarily withdraw its request for immediate inspection due to international pressure and lack of evidence.
Diplomatic contest in the heat
In parallel with the diplomatic negotiations, the situation on board the "Galaxy" was becoming increasingly difficult. With the onset of August heat, supplies on board began to run short, especially fresh water and food.
Captain Zhang Rude had to order a reduction in the daily supply to ensure the demand for long voyages.
At the same time, the actions of the US military are more aggressive, they are not only cruising in the vicinity of the "Galaxy", but also trying to reach the crew by direct or indirect means in order to obtain more information.
As soon as Sha Zukang learned of the ship's condition, he immediately took action at the diplomatic level. He held an emergency meeting with United States representatives in Dubai, stressing the Chinese government's concern about the safety of the vessel and demanding that the United States immediately stop its military operations.
During the talks, Sha Zukang further pressured the US side to provide its so-called intelligence sources and the legal basis for why it insisted on unreasonably tracking the "Yinhe."
In the face of China's firm attitude and international attention to the incident, United States representatives began to show some signs of concession.
In response to the ongoing high temperatures and resource shortages, Sha Zukang instructed Zhang to take extraordinary measures. One night, Mr. Cheung suggested that electrical engineers temporarily cut off the ship's air cooler.
The move caused the temperature in the cabin to rise rapidly, in order to make them feel stressed in the extreme environment the next time the U.S. military tried to board the ship, thus demonstrating China's resolute attitude towards sovereignty violations.
Sure enough, when United States servicemen tried to board the ship for a "routine inspection" over the next few days, they were plagued by temperatures of up to 60 degrees Celsius in the cabin.
The US military personnel did not last long in the hot cabin and had to interrupt the search and return to the deck for fresh air. This happened several times, and the actions of the American personnel gradually decreased, and their attitude began to change somewhat.
In the following days, Sha Zukang's negotiations with the US side also saw a turning point. United States representatives began to reconsider their position on the Galaxy in the face of sustained diplomatic pressure and the attention of international public opinion.
After a series of intense and difficult negotiations, the two sides finally reached a preliminary agreement, agreeing to an international team of representatives of China, United States and third countries to inspect the Galaxy.
Dignity preservation
The inspection is carried out by an international team of experts from three parties, who are equipped with advanced testing equipment, and each container is carefully inspected.
Sha oversees the entire operation, ensuring that all procedures are carried out in accordance with international standards, while also ensuring that China's rights and interests are not violated.
Within a few days of the start of the inspection, the team of experts carried out a thorough inspection of all suspicious containers on board the "Galaxy". They kept detailed records and analyses of each shipment, which included chemical and physical inspections.
As the examination deepened, the US accusations gradually became untenable. Preliminary inspection results showed that all the cargo was in perfect agreement with the shipping documents and that no prohibited chemicals or other suspicious materials were found.
During the inspection, Zhang Rude and his crew maintained a high level of cooperation and professionalism, and despite their full knowledge of their innocence, they still strictly followed all international regulations and procedures.
This professional behavior won the respect of the international observers present and established a positive image for the Chinese crew internationally. The inspection lasted several weeks, during which Sha Zukang and his team held several rounds of discussions and consultations with representatives of the U.S. side and third parties.
Not only do they have to deal with technical and legal issues, but they also have to deal with the constant attention from the international media. Sha's communication skills and principled attitude played a key role in this process.
Eventually, after all the inspections were completed, the team of experts published the final report. The report clearly states that no prohibited chemical weapons materials were found on board the Galaxy and that all cargo complies with international trade regulations.
The United States, in the face of this clear result, although somewhat embarrassed, finally accepted the report's conclusions.
Sha Zukang's persistence and professional handling ultimately helped China maintain its dignity and ensure that its national interests were not harmed during this diplomatic turmoil.
Resources:
Sha Zukang. Center for Chinese Science, International Eurasian Academy of Sciences.2020-04-13 [Cited 2020-04-13]
Sha Zukang. Shanghai Forum