RP, China renew war of words

RP, China renew war of words

MANILA (AFP): A war of words flared anew on Thursday between the Philippines and China over a South China Sea shoal as Manila prepared to launch joint military exercises with the United States aimed at bolstering defense ties.

The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest over the presence of two Chinese fishing boats on Scarborough Shoal, just 128 nautical miles west of its main island of Luzon. Beijing retorted with a warning against creating any new "trouble" in the area.

Filipino troops on Wednesday boarded the vessels and ordered them out, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said. The navy also discovered dynamite sticks and blasting caps -- both banned under Philippine fishing laws -- on one boat, and soft corals on both vessels.

Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja said the foreign office delivered a "note verbale" to the Chinese Embassy voicing its "strong" protest and "serious concern", but felt it was not necessary to call Chinese Ambassador Fu Ying to the ministry.