Update:
Portion of the June 4, 2011 Statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs On the Presence of Chinese Vessels In the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) conveyed to the Chinese Embassy on June 2 its protest over the increasing presence and activities of Chinese vessels including naval assets in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
The DFA noted that these actions of Chinese vessels hamper the normal and legitimate fishing activities of the Filipino fishermen in the area and undermines the peace and stability of the region.
The actions of the Chinese vessels in Philippine waters are serious violations of Philippine sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction and also violate the ASEAN-China Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea.
June 2, 2011 Statement from the Chinese Embassy in Manila:
China holds a clear and consistent position on the South China Sea issue. The reported “incursion of Chinese ships” is not true. It’s only China’s marine research ship conducting normal maritime research activities on the South China Sea.
By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files
Placemark on Google map shows location of Jackson atoll in the disputed Spratlys group of islands.Jackson Atoll is 140 NM from Palawan
Upon hearing this warning through a marine band radio, three Philippine boats fishing in Quirino, or Jackson atoll, a Philippine-claimed islet off Palawan in the disputed Spratly Islands, scampered away.
But the Chinese warship still fired three shots at the vessels F/V Jaime DLS, F/V Mama Lydia DLS and F/V Maricris 12. The Philippine Navy later identified the Chinese warship as Dongguan, a Jianghu-V Class missile frigate.
The incident in the South China Sea happened on Feb. 25—before March when the Philippine-commissioned seismic vessel was reportedly harassed in Reed Bank in western Palawan and before the Chinese vessels laid steel posts and a buoy in May in the Amy Douglas (Iroquois) Bank southwest of Reed Bank which Manila said is within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Please click here (VERA Files) for the rest of the story.
