The Chinese mainland and Taiwan are discussing the possibility of cooperating to salvage a sunken ship, which has potentially dangerous cargo on board, in Taiwanese waters, according to the Ministry of Communications.

Song Dexing, director of the ministry's Water Transport Department, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the "China Rescue Association" in Taiwan had recently expressed hope that the mainland could assist with the salvage of a ship that sank off the coast of Hsin-chu port in Taiwan.

Song did not reveal the ownership of the ship or when, and how, it sank.

Negotiations between the two sides are underway to retrieve 3,100 tons of phenol, a mildly toxic substance on the sunken vessel, he said.

Song said rescue forces from mainland and Taiwan had conducted more than 100 salvage operations of endangered ships, planes and crew in the Taiwan Strait since 1996.

Though Taiwan's aerial search and rescue force is fairly strong, its ability in underwater rescue is inadequate, said Song.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2007)