A group of armed men kidnapped two women from a diving resort in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Wednesday night, resulting in Chinese officials demanding the Malaysian government do everything to make sure the women are safely returned.
The kidnapping comes at a time when tensions between China and Malaysia are high over Malaysia's handling of the investigation into missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, Reuters reported. Most of the 239 passengers aboard the plane are from China.
The two women, a Chinese tourist and a Philippine hotel employee, were taken from the Singamata Reef Resort on Borneo Island, a popular destination for Chinese tourists, according to the Associated Press. The unidentified gunmen took the tourist, reported to be 29, from her room and placed her in a boat. It is not clear where the hotel employee, 40, was taken from, Reuters reported.
Hong Lei, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said China's consulate in Malaysian Borneo requested "that local police fully put into effect rescue work on the basis of guaranteeing safety and to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists there," Reuters reported.
"The Chinese foreign ministry will pay close attention to how the situation develops," Lei said.
The gunmen are suspected to be members of the Philippine-based militant group Abu Sayyaf, according to the AP. The group has conducted kidnappings in the area before in exchange for money, a Philippine official told the AP. Abu Sayyaf has historical ties to militant groups in other countries, including al-Qaeda.
Travel from China to Malaysia has declined during the search for the missing flight, according to travel agents from the country. China's media has also criticized a perceived mishandling of the investigation into flight MH 370, which has been missing since March 8.
Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak said Wednesday's kidnapping could be an attempt to create a wider rift between the two countries.
"There may be those who are attempting to drive a wedge between us and China," said Razak, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported, according to Reuters.
