DEFENSE SECRETARY Delfin Lorenzana has called for “diplomatic steps” after a Chinese fishing militia vessel allegedly rammed and sank a Filipino trawler while anchored near Reed Bank in the disputed South China Sea.
Nearly two dozen fishermen survived the incident and were eventually rescued by Vietnamese fishermen. And Lorenzana condemned the “cowardly action” and called for investigation and diplomatic steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Chinese boat hit the fishing vessel anchored near Reed Bank, being claimed by the Philippines, causing it to sink and leaving 22 crewmen to the mercy of the elements, according to Lorenzana, who was quoted by AFP.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly action of the suspected Chinese fishing vessel and its crew for abandoning the Filipino crew. This is not the expected action from a responsible and friendly people,” he said in a statement.
China has claimed almost all the islands in the disputed area and built artificial islands with military facilities and airstrips there. The Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia also have claims in the South China Sea. Reed Bank is about 150 kilometres (93 miles) off Palawan province and within 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and far from China’s nearest major landmass.
In 2011, the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of harassing an exploration vessel off Reed Bank. Manila won a key 2016 ruling against China’s claims in the waterway, but President Rodrigo Duterte opted to set it aside to court Chinese investment and trade.
Duterte in May warned that the South China Sea was becoming a “flashpoint”. “I love China… but it behooves upon us to ask, ‘is it right for a country to claim the whole ocean’?” he asked. (AFP, Mindanao Examiner)
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