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.