China rejects Manila's stake

China rejects Manila's stake

BEIJING (AFP): China dismissed efforts yesterday by the
Philippines to assert their claim over Scarborough shoal in the
South China Sea as "unacceptable".

"The Philippine side is redoubling its activities on the
Huangyan islands (Scarborough shoal). They have even declared
administrative rights on the pretext of their 200-mile exclusive
economic zone," foreign ministry spokesman Shen Guofang told
reporters.

"This is unacceptable to the Chinese people and their
government," he said.

Philippine President Fidel Ramos reasserted his country's
claim to the islands Wednesday, saying it had "the sovereign
right to explore and exploit the resources of the Scarborough
shoal".