Philippines willing to assist stuck Chinese ship

Chinese surveillance ships are seen off Scarborough Shoal in his undated file photo taken by the Philippine Navy and released by the Department of Foreign Affairs. AFP/DFA

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is closely watching what China will do to rescue one of its frigates that has run aground on a reef 111 kilometers away from Palawan, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Abigail Valte, a spokesperson for President Benigno Aquino, said also that a diplomatic protest was something the Department of Foreign Affairs will have to consider with respect to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s naval ship No. 560 getting stuck at the Hasa-hasa Shoal, also known as the Half Moon Shoal.

“If assistance is required then we are duty-bound to render it. Dispute or no dispute we will render assistance—if it’s needed. Allow me to make that clarification because I did see a report from the Chinese embassy saying that the rescue from their side is underway,” Valte said over state-run radio dzRB.

Asked if the Philippines would make sure that the Chinese frigate is removed from the Hasa-hasa Shoal, Valte said, “We will be monitoring the progress of the rescue.”

Valte said the situation was already being dealt with at the moment but added she could not reveal details of the Philippine government’s response at this time.

“What we can say is that if assistance is required, we will render it. It seems, to my knowledge, assistance has not been asked for but it will be given if it is,” Valte said.

Asked whether the government would file another diplomatic protest over the most recent incident, Valte said, “That is something that would have to be considered by the Department of Foreign Affairs.”