Talks continue over Huangyan standoff
Source: Agencies |
April 14, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THREE of eight Chinese fishing boats at the center of a standoff between China and the Philippines left Huangyan Isand in the South China Sea yesterday.
But the standoff continues, with two Chinese law enforcement ships and a Philippine coast guard vessel still in the area.
The standoff began on Tuesday when Manila deployed its largest warship, a US Hamilton-class cutter, to Huangyan Island and cited "protecting sovereignty" as an excuse to harass Chinese fishermen. Philippine security officials found one of the eight Chinese boats docked in the area carrying corals, giant clams, and live sharks and were about to detain the fishermen when they were blocked by two Chinese vessels.
A third Chinese vessel arrived at the island on Thursday. Manila tried to ease tensions by replacing its warship with a coast guard cutter.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario told reporters the fishing boats had the "freedom" to move, but did not elaborate. He met Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing yesterday and said Ma presented her own proposal to end the standoff.
"I think that we were able to succeed in moving forward by a few steps but there are other matters that remain outstanding," he said, adding that the talks would continue.
He also said diplomatic protests were being set aside to focus on finding peaceful solutions.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministery said yesterday that Huangyan Island was an integral part of Chinese territory. Actions from the Philippine side had infringed upon China's sovereignty and violated the consensus of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
But the standoff continues, with two Chinese law enforcement ships and a Philippine coast guard vessel still in the area.
The standoff began on Tuesday when Manila deployed its largest warship, a US Hamilton-class cutter, to Huangyan Island and cited "protecting sovereignty" as an excuse to harass Chinese fishermen. Philippine security officials found one of the eight Chinese boats docked in the area carrying corals, giant clams, and live sharks and were about to detain the fishermen when they were blocked by two Chinese vessels.
A third Chinese vessel arrived at the island on Thursday. Manila tried to ease tensions by replacing its warship with a coast guard cutter.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario told reporters the fishing boats had the "freedom" to move, but did not elaborate. He met Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing yesterday and said Ma presented her own proposal to end the standoff.
"I think that we were able to succeed in moving forward by a few steps but there are other matters that remain outstanding," he said, adding that the talks would continue.
He also said diplomatic protests were being set aside to focus on finding peaceful solutions.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministery said yesterday that Huangyan Island was an integral part of Chinese territory. Actions from the Philippine side had infringed upon China's sovereignty and violated the consensus of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
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