China rescues 2 Filipino fishermen in disputed shoal

In this Sept. 23, 2015, file photo, Chinese Coast Guard members approach Filipino fishermen as they confront each other off Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, also called the West Philippine Sea. President Rodrigo Duterte, who has considerably reduced tensions with China over contested South China Sea waters, says he plans to declare a marine sanctuary at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Such a move would keep away both Filipino and Chinese fishermen and prevent China from constructing any facilities, like it did on seven other features farther south in the Spratly archipelago. AP

The Philippine Coast Guard says its Chinese counterpart has rescued two Filipino fishermen in bad weather in a disputed shoal in a show of how once-frosty relations have improved after President Rodrigo Duterte reached out to revive ties with Beijing.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Armand Balilo said Friday that Chinese coast guard officials notified them of the rescue in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines and asked how the two can be handed over to Filipino authorities.

Balilo says a patrol ship was sent to pick up the rescued Filipinos from the Chinese coast guard but large waves were preventing the transfer in high seas.

China seized the shoal in 2012 but ties have improved after Duterte met President Xi Jinping in China in October.