Saturday, March 5, 2011

Philippines secures survey ship in row with China

MANILA - THE Philippine coast guard says it has deployed three vessels to secure a government oil survey ship that reported being harrased by two Chinese patrol boats near a disputed area of the South China Sea.

Coast guard chief Adm Wilfredo Tamayo said on Saturday that two vessels with divers and medics on board and a surveillance vessel have been sent to patrol waters off the south-western province of Palawan and assist the government-contracted ship on a seismic survey in the strategic area.

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest with China and demanded an explanation for the incident on Wednesday near the disputed Spratly Islands that are claimed by the Philippines, China and other nations. -- AP

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