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arrival figures will continue to decline in August. To suggest that this decline would have been even greater than it was
if the Seventh Fleet were less active in its sea rescue efforts
can only be seen as speculation without any supporting evidence.
Second, I would refer again to the record of refugee boat
sightings and rescue by the Seventh Fleet since its efforts in
this regard were expanded on July 21. Over 1,400 vessels were
sighted by long-range aircraft. Only nine were refugee boats.
Only four of them were deemed to be in distress and only approximately 180 refugees were rescued from the four craft,
In our view, these results of an effort which has involved
aerial surveillance of large area of the South China Seà in no way suggest that a magnet effect of any kind is at work.
Hanoi's assertions on this subject do not, of course, have
anything to do with sea rescue efforts. They are politically
motivated and directed against the presence of US naval units in
the area.
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