Chinese boats block RP navy ship from Spratly reef

Chinese boats block RP navy ship from Spratly reef

OFF MISCHIEF REEF, the Spratlys (AFP): Two Chinese fishing boats cut across the bow of a Philippine Navy vessel escorting journalists on a controversial tour of the disputed Spratly Islands, according to pool reports of the visit.

The Filipino logistics support ship Benguet, accompanied by the patrol craft, Miguel Malvar, was 10 nautical miles away from Chinese-held Mischief Reef in the South China Sea on Saturday when two Chinese fishing boats made the maneuvers, which the Philippine Navy described as contrary to standard navigation regulations.

The Philippine ships then stopped and turned back, journalists on the vessels said.

"Look at what they have done. They've crossed our bow. You yourselves saw that", Air Force Maj. Gen. Carlos Tanega, the commander of the Philippine military's Western Command, told the reporters on board.

"They are blocking our way. They are too close for comfort," he added.

Philippine military officials said the Benguet then tried to raise the Chinese vessels on radio through an international maritime frequency, but got no response.

The reporters said there was no visible evidence that the Chinese boats were armed.

As the Filipino vessels moved away, two Chinese frigates were seen approaching at a distance of about 15 nautical miles, but then made no other action.

The Philippine-sponsored visit, involving 38 Filipino and foreign journalists, has been formally protested by Beijing as "provocative".

The Chinese Navy seized the reef, 125 nautical miles from the southwestern Philippine island of Palawan, last year and erected four octagonal structures on stilts which Manila suspects are naval support stations.

Manila retaliated by arresting 62 Chinese fishermen in the Spratlys and dismantling Chinese territorial markers on six reefs, shoals and cays which Manila also claims.

The chain is also claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The journalists said that from the Benguet, military helicopters gave them an aerial tour of the Mischief Reef, where they saw dozens of what appeared to be Chinese fishing vessels on the lagoon guarded by the octagonal structures flying the Chinese flag.

It was while the ship was recovering the helicopter that the incident with the Chinese vessels occurred.