“The Chinese side strongly urges the Philippine side to release the boat and its crew immediately, and guarantee the crew’s safety and their property,” Chinese Embassy in the Philippines spokesman Zhang Hua said in a statement Thursday.
“This provocative action is premeditated in an attempt to create tensions, and severely violates China’s sovereignty and maritime rights,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) previously that the crew of the Chinese fishing boat found near Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) off Palawan were apprehended for illegally fishing within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“The seizing of the Chinese fishing boat, carrying large numbers of endangered species, and the apprehension of its crew by the Philippine National Police Maritime Group Special Boat Unit, were undertaken as actions to enforce maritime laws and to uphold Philippine sovereign rights over its EEZ,” DFA said in a statement.
As much as 400 live sea turtles were reportedly found onboard the boat.
China has demanded that the Philippines release the Chinese fishermen and warned against further provocative actions.
“The Chinese side warns the Philippine side not to take provocative actions, so as to avoid further damage to the bilateral relations,” Zhang said.
China and the Philippines are locked in a maritime dispute over the South China Sea which China claims entirely including portions of the Philippines 200-nautical mile EEZ.
In April 2012, Chinese fishermen were found illegally poaching endangered marine species in Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) off the coast of Zambales.
Philippine authorities however were prevented from arresting the Chinese fishermen when Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked Filipino ships. The standoff lasted for several month until Philippines eventually withdrew.
China has since maintained control of Panatag shoal and drove away Filipino fishermen using water cannons when they tried to fish in the shoal.
The Philippines has a pending arbitration case before the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea against China.