The government is investigating claims that sunken British warships are being plundered for scrap metal.
The wrecks of four ships lying off Malaysia and Indonesia have been raided, according to the paper. This follows reports that “six further wrecks,” including the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse, were targeted.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sky News says that other reports have also blamed pirates from Vietnam and Thailand.
The looting of warships is prohibited by the UN International Salvaging Commission. Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, says he is “very concerned” about the reports.
“We will work closely with the Indonesian and Malaysian governments to investigate these claims,” he said. “A military wreck should remain undisturbed and those who lost their lives on board should be allowed to rest in peace.”
According to the Times, the steel in the wrecks attracts looters because it hasn’t absorbed background radiation from atomic weapons. The looted metal can be used for “sensitive medical instruments”.
The pirates reportedly use explosives to break off sections of the wrecks which they raise, or drop massive anchors on the sections to break them apart.
An Australian diving expert told the Mail on Sunday that the metal haul from each ship could fetch “more than £1m” in the Chinese market. He said there were hundreds more wrecks in the region.
-
Quiz of The Week: 18 – 24 OctoberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will Grace Wales Bonner change Hermès for the better?Podcast Plus will nuclear fusion deliver us from climate change? Is humour the best way to take on Trump?
-
The week’s best photosIn Pictures A fluffy hug, a toppled tower, and more
-
The WW2 massacre dividing Senegal and FranceUnder the Radar A new investigation found the 1944 Thiaroye attack on ‘unarmed’ African soldiers was ‘premeditated’, and far deadlier than previously recorded
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
The France-Indonesia push for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solutionTalking Points Both countries have said a two-state solution is the way to end the Middle East conflict
