RP wants charges for fishermen

RP wants charges for fishermen

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Thursday that 20 Chinese fishermen seized near a disputed reef in the South China Sea earlier this week should be charged.

On Tuesday China demanded the immediate release of the fishermen.

The Philippine navy seized the fishermen and their six dinghies on Sunday near Mischief Reef, the focus of a long series of diplomatic clashes between Beijing and Manila over contested isles in the potentially oil-rich Spratly Islands.

Authorities said the fishermen were picked up about 200 kilometers from Palawan, well within the country's 322-km economic zone recognized by international law.