Manila regrets boat sinking

Manila regrets boat sinking

MANILA (Reuters): Manila voiced regret on Tuesday over what it called an accidental sinking of a Chinese fishing boat in a disputed area in the South China Sea, but three survivors said they were rammed by a Philippine Navy ship.

"This is an unfortunate incident. We have sent our regrets to the Chinese ambassador," Philippine President Joseph Estrada told reporters.

"We are willing to apologize if it's our fault," he said, adding that Philippine officials needed to find out what really happened. "We will not apologize easily," Estrada said.

Top Philippine defense and military officials said the Chinese boat collided accidentally in rough seas with the Philippine Navy ship BRP Rizal on Sunday near Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop 120 nautical miles west of the main Philippine island of Luzon.

Manila and Beijing contest ownership of the shoal which lies well north of the potentially oil-rich Spratly Islands, also the subject of dispute.