South China Sea: Manila asks Beijing for explanation over latest maritime feud
- Philippines asked for ‘clarification’ over an incident involving a Chinese coastguard forcibly seizing Chinese rocket debris in possession of Filipino navy staff
- China’s Foreign Ministry in Beijing has denied the debris was seized forcibly
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson in Manila, Maria Theresa Daza, said without elaborating that a diplomatic note was relayed to China for “clarification from the Chinese side over the incident.”
Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, who heads the military’s Western Command, said the Filipino sailors, using a long-range camera, spotted the debris drifting in strong waves near a sandbar about 800 yards (540 meters) offshore. They set out on a boat and retrieved the floating object and started to tow it back to Thitu Island.
As they were travelling back to the island, “they noticed that a China coastguard vessel with bow number 5203 was approaching their location and subsequently blocked their pre-plotted course twice,” Carlos said in a statement.
The Chinese coastguard vessel then deployed an inflatable boat with personnel who “forcefully retrieved said floating object by cutting the towing line” attached to the Filipino sailors’ rubber boat. The sailors decided to return to their island, Carlos said, without detailing what happened.
Chinese coastguard ships have blocked Philippine supply boats delivering supplies to Filipino forces in the disputed waters in the past but seizing objects in the possession of another nation’s military constitutes a more brazen act.
China’s Foreign Ministry in Beijing has denied that the debris was seized forcibly.
“The Philippine side salvaged and towed the object first. After friendly consultation at the site, the Philippine side returned the object to China, and China expressed appreciation for that,” ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Monday. “There was no such thing as interception or forcible seizure at the scene.”
Responding to China’s denial, top Philippine defence official Jose Faustino Jnr stood by the accounts of the Filipino navy personnel and said the debris was “rudely” taken from them by the Chinese coastguard.
Faustino said a separate Philippine investigation was under way after Filipino villagers on Thitu reported hearing unexplained explosions on Sunday.
It was not clear where the thunder-like blasts, which caused slight tremors on the ground, came from and what were their nature. Villagers on the island were alarmed, officials said, adding they prepared an evacuation plan in case there would be a need for it.
Thitu, which Filipinos call Pagasa, or hope, hosts a fishing community and Filipino forces and lies near Subi, one of seven disputed reefs that China has turned into missile-protected islands in the disputed waters. US security officials say that the developed islands, including three with military-grade runways, now resemble forward military bases.