3 new Chinese vessels deployed in Shoal

MANILA, Philippines – Three new Chinese fishing vessels have arrived in the disputed Scarborough Shoal, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

“Yesterday, there were about four fishing vessels from China which were inside the lagoon and two fishing vessels outside,” Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said in a press conference.

“One white Chinese surveillance ship was also there,” he added.

“We had our BRP Pampanga (in the area), which has replaced already the BRP Edsa because it had to go for re-provisioning and resupply,” Hernandez said.

On Monday morning, only three fishing vessels were left inside the lagoon with the lone surveillance ship staying also in the area, Hernandez said.

“The (gunboat) that was approaching as reported by the media is not in the area anymore. The big one is not there,” Hernandez said.

It seemed that the three fishing vessels were new to the area, he said.

Hernandez said that they had no idea if the fishing vessels were again poaching in the lagoon.

The ongoing standoff between Chinese vessels and Philippine Coast Guard began on April 10 when the BRP Gregorio del Pilar found eight Chinese fishing ships in Scarborough Shoal with coral, giant clams, live sharks and other endangered marine species.

The eight Chinese fishing ships had managed to leave the area as the standoff was ongoing.

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the repeated intrusions of China into Philippine territory.

China was maintaining its position that Scarborough Shoal, known to them as Huangyan Island, has been their territory throughout its history.

The Philippines, however, cites the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas, which defines the 200 nautical mile area around the country as its exclusive economic zone. Scarborough Shoal is 129 nautical miles away from mainland Luzon.