MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE 6, 3:11 p.m.) The Philippines said its
flagship navy vessel was in a standoff with two Chinese surveillance
ships that had blocked the arrest of Chinese fishermen in eight Chinese
vessels spotted since Sunday in disputed territory in the South China
Sea (West Philippine Sea).
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing was summoned by
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to the Department of
Foreign Affairs where they met to discuss the issue.
Later, Del Rosario declared: "If the Philippines is challenged, we
are prepared to secure our sovereignty," del Rosario told reporters.
The Chinese embassy, on the other hand, maintained it has sovereignty
over the disputed shoal and told the Philippines to pull out its naval
vessel.
Del Rosario acknwoledged that "we have reached an impasse in terms of
position. There's a real challenge to us to have agreements" on
maritime conduct within disputed territory.
Nevertheless, he said the Philippines and China "resolved to seek a diplomatic solution to the issue."
Eight Chinese fishing vessels were anchored within Philippine
territory inside a lagoon of Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, 124 nautical
miles from Zambales, or within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive
economic zone and continental shelf.
On the evening of April 10, del Rosario wrote Ma to tell her that the shoal is "an integral part of Philippine territory."
The BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), which was dispatched from Palawan
on Sunday on a maritime patrol, saw the Chinese fishing vessels and
boarded them on April 10, in accordance with established rules of
engagement, to collect photos and other evidence of their catch.
The inspection team from PF-15 reported that large amounts of
illegally collected corals, giant clams, and live sharks were found
inside the compartments of the first fishing vessel it boarded.
Later, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar reported, Chinese surveillance
ships Zhonggou Haijian 75 and Zhonggou Haijian 84 managed to sail at the
mouth of the shoal, placing themselves between PF-15 and the Chinese
fishing vessels, preventing the arrest of the Chinese fishermen.
Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara stressed in a
radio interview that "we have the authority to confiscate" the
contraband marine products from the Chinese finshermen and hold their
vessels.
At the same time, Alcantara said they would bring in local police and
the Coast Guard to "tone down" the situation and make it a "purely
maritime and police affair."
BRP Gregorio del Pilar is the first patrol frigate that the
Philippine government bought from the United States. It was built as a
US Coast Guard Hamilton class cutter.
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