Manila taking risks over fishermen, Beijing says<\/p>\n
HONG KONG, China (Reuter): China put its diplomatic ties with
\nthe Philippines on the line yesterday, calling on Manila to free
\n23 arrested Chinese fishermen or risk spoiling the two countries'
\n\"friendly relations\".<\/p>\n
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry office in Hong Kong
\nsaid \"China's embassy in the Philippines has made formal
\nrepresentations to the Philippines and urged the Philippines to
\nhasten the release of the vessel and the people.<\/p>\n
\"The Chinese side hopes the Philippines will deal with the
\nmatter urgently from the point of view of preserving friendly
\nrelations,\" the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
The 23 were arrested July 31 near Hasa-Hasa Shoal, about 145
\nkilometers west of the southwestern Philippine island of Palawan.<\/p>\n
Three were Hong Kong residents and the rest were from
\nGuangdong in southern China, the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, a Philippine official said the fishermen would
\nprobably be charged with illegal fishing, and alleged that their
\nvessel was carrying dynamite.<\/p>\n
China said it had sent officials to Palawan to advise and see
\nto the needs of those arrested.<\/p>\n
The Spratlys are a cluster of potentially oil-rich isles,
\nreefs and shoals, some or all of which are claimed by China, the
\nPhilippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.<\/p>\n
Beijing says all the islands and rocky outcrops in the sea
\nhave belonged to China since ancient times.<\/p>\n
A series of recent incidents involving Chinese naval and
\nfishing vessels in areas claimed by Manila has threatened to sour
\nrelations between China and the Philippines.<\/p>\n
In May, the Philippines arrested 21 Chinese fishermen near the
\nScarborough Shoal, north of the Spratlys, for illegal entry.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/manila-taking-risks-over-fishermen-beijing-says-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}