Beijing-Manila standoff intensifies
Beijing yesterday said it had protested to Manila over a tense standoff between the Philippines' biggest warship and two Chinese ships in a disputed part of the South China Sea.
The Philippine government said the two Chinese vessels were blocking efforts by its navy flagship vessel to arrest Chinese fishermen that were found on the weekend to have illegally entered its territory.
"We have launched solemn representations with the Philippine side over the Philippine vessels and patrol boats harassing Chinese fishing boats and fishermen," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin.
The incident is one of the most high-profile flare-ups in recent years between the two countries over their competing territorial claims to parts of the South China Sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits.
Earlier yesterday, the Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador in Manila and lodged a formal protest, but China insisted it had sovereign rights over the area and ordered the Philippine warship to leave.
China insists it has sovereign rights to all of the South China Sea, even waters close to the coast of other countries and hundreds of kilometres from its own landmass.
Comments