PHNO-HL: 14 CHINESE VESSELS NOW AT PANATAG SHOAL, SAYS AFP

14 CHINESE VESSELS NOW AT PANATAG
SHOAL, SAYS AFP

[PHOTO- Map showing the
disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (south China Sea), including the
Spratlys Islands and Scarborough Shoal. AFP]
MANILA,
MAY, 2012
(INQUIRER) By
Dona Z. Pazzibugan - There are now 14 Chinese ships in Panatag
Shoal—four big maritime ships and 10 fishing boats, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines said Wednesday.
Only a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel MCS 3008 and the BRP
Edsa II, a Coast Guard search and rescue vessel (SARV) 002, represent Philippine
sovereignty over the area, known internationally as Scarborough Shoal, according
to the AFP.
As of Monday night, the two ships had monitored 14 Chinese vessels in the
area, according to the AFP's Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).
They were the Chinese Maritime Surveillance (CMS) vessels 71, 75 and 81 and
the Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) 310, touted to be China's most
modern and most powerful maritime ship.
Seven Chinese fishing vessels and three smaller boats were "still sighted
inside the Scarborough Shoal as of 8 p.m. May 1," according to the Nolcom.
The Nolcom reported that Edsa II was 1.4 nautical miles (2.52 kilometers)
northeast off the shoal's South Rock.
The CMS 71 was 13.6 nautical miles (24.4 km) away from Edsa II; the CMS 81,
11.9 nautical miles (21.42 km) away; and the CMS 75, only 3.3 nautical miles
(5.94 km) away.
China's FLEC 310 was just 8.3 nautical miles (14.94 km) away from Edsa II.

Nolcom did not report any Filipino fishing vessels in the area.
Lieutenant General Anthony Alcantara, Nolcom chief, has ordered the
continuous monitoring of the situation. He said his command was determined to
"protect (the country's) territorial integrity," said Captain Aurelio Kigis, the
command spokesperson.
The Philippines stood its ground even as the standoff entered its fourth week
in the face of China's refusal to respect the Philippines' sovereign right to
Panatag Shoal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(Unclos).
On April 28, the FLEC 310 harassed the smaller Edsa II and the BRP Pampanga,
another Coast Guard SARV 003.
No reaction to bullying
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the FLEC 310 was "speeding"
as it approached the two Philippine ships at around 20 knots and then veered
away, generating a two-meter wave.
The Edsa II was at the time relieving the Pampanga and the two vessels did
not react to the bullying by the Chinese ship, the DFA said.
The standoff started on April 10 when two Chinese surveillance ships stopped
the Philippine Navy from inspecting illegally poached marine life from eight
Chinese fishing boats.



Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi

© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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