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.