CHINESE POACHERS Eleven Chinese fishermen arrested by Philippine maritime police for poaching in the West Philippine Sea arrive at the headquarters of the PNP Maritime Special Boat Unit in Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City. REDEMPTO D. ANDA/蜜桃工作室 SOUTHERN LUZON
MANILA, Philippines鈥擟hina stood pat on its call for the Philippines to release its fishermen arrested for poaching turtles in the West Philippine Sea.
This was stressed on Monday by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying as Palawan prosecutors filed charges against nine Chinese fishermen for allegedly poaching within the Philippines鈥� exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
鈥淲e have made clear our positions and demands on many occasions. We hope that this incident can be properly settled as soon as possible,鈥� Hua said at a press conference in Beijing.
China has been insisting on its 鈥渋ndisputable sovereignty鈥� over the waters where the fishermen were arrested, saying it was part of the South China Sea. Beijing claims ownership of most of the sea against rival claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Hasa-Hasa Shoal, where the Chinese were arrested, is located within the Philippines鈥� 370-km EEZ in an area Manila calls the West Philippine Sea. China does not recognize this delineation.
鈥楧evoted hatchet man鈥�
The arrest of the Chinese fishermen was the latest flare-up in the long-standing territorial dispute covering naturally rich areas in the South China Sea.
China鈥檚 state-run media on Tuesday slammed Beijing鈥檚 territorial challengers.
鈥淭he Philippines has singled itself out as a determined challenger of Chinese national interests and the devoted hatchet man of foreign anti-China forces,鈥� the government-run China Daily said in an editorial.
鈥淚t needs to be convinced that it has made a choice that, if it persists, means paying an unaffordable price.鈥�
No compromise
China asserts ownership over almost all of the South China Sea. It is also in a bitter dispute with Japan over small islands in the East China Sea.
The China Daily accused Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam of worsening situations in the region, encouraged by 鈥渕alicious third parties.鈥�
鈥淏eijing must make sure that every claimant knows blackmail and extortion will not work, and that it will not compromise its territorial integrity,鈥� it said.
鈥淎 rat will not be pacified when we hesitate to pelt it for fear of smashing the vase beside it,鈥� it added.鈥�With report from AFP
Originally posted: 9:35 pm | Tuesday, May 13th, 2014