Chinese poachers' arrest by PH was 'premeditated' to stir up tensions - Beijing

From InterAksyon (May 8): Chinese poachers' arrest by PH was 'premeditated' to stir up tensions - Beijing

The arrest of 11 Chinese poachers off Palawan province on Wednesday was a “premeditated” act that was meant to stir tensions in the South China Sea, Beijing’s embassy in the Philippines asserted Thursday.

“This provocative action” also “severely violates China’s sovereignty and maritime rights,” said a statement by Embassy spokesman Zhang Hua, who also reiterated his government’s “solemn representations” to Manila authorities to immediately release the men, caught with some 500 endangered turtles in a site called Half Moon Shoal 100 kms from Palawan’s mainland.

The embassy statement followed a report by China's state media quoting the skipper of the Chinese fishing boat claiming Thursday that his vessel was shot at by Philippine police as 11 fishermen aboard another were seized.

"They rushed toward us in a boat and fired at us," He Junting, captain of the Qiongqionghai 03168, said of Tuesday's events, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

PNP denies firing

Philippine National Police official Noel Vargas denied the accusation, telling reporters: "I don't know where they got their information.

"As far as the PNP (Philippine National Police) side is concerned, we did not fire any shots."

The allegation and denial came after Philippine police arrested the 11 fishermen in the South China Sea and impounded their ship as part of what Manila calls efforts to protect its resources and enforce its laws.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters close to the shores of its neighbours, raising tensions in the strategically vital area.

Separately, Vietnam on Wednesday said that Chinese ships protecting a deep-water drilling rig in disputed waters in the South China Sea had used water cannon to attack Vietnamese patrol vessels and repeatedly rammed them, injuring six people.

Tensions between the Communist neighbors have risen sharply since Beijing unilaterally announced last week it would move the deep-water drilling rig into disputed waters -- a move the United States has described as "provocative".

Xinhua identified the vessel seized by the Philippine police as the Qiongqionghai 09063.

Captain He said his boat was nearby and he took evasive action after seeing the armed Philippine vessel.

The Chinese embassy in Manila on Thursday demanded the immediate release of the boat and its crew, while Philippine authorities brushed it off.

Philippine police said the arrests were made near Hasa-hasa (Half Moon) Shoal, 106 kilometers (66 miles) west of the major Philippine island of Palawan, in waters which Manila has exclusive rights to exploit under international law.

The Philippines in March filed a formal plea to the United Nations challenging Beijing's territorial claim, in defiance of Chinese warnings that it would seriously damage their already frayed relations.

Beijing has rejected UN arbitration and urged Manila to settle the dispute through bilateral talks instead.

Half Moon Shoal is a bare outcrop on the eastern edge of the Spratlys, a South China Sea chain that sits near key sea lanes and atop what are believed could be vast oil and gas deposits.

In Tuesday's operation, Filipino police said five local fishermen on a smaller boat were also detained, suspected of helping the 11 others to illegally catch hundreds of turtles protected by Philippine environmental laws.

Beijing affirms sovereignty claim 

The Embassy statement also reiterated Beijing’s sweeping claim, as manifested in its controversial nine-dash-line claim, over most of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by Manila – which calls it West Philippine Sea – and, among others, fellow ASEAN member Vietnam. The statement sent by Zhang to media offices on Thursday stressed: “China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha islands and their adjacent waters, including the Banyue Reef.”

The Chinese side “strongly urges the Philippine side to release the boat and its crew immediately, and guarantee the crew’s safety and their property,” added Zhang.

Beijing likewise warned “the Philippine side not to take provocative actions, so as to avoid further damage to bilateral relations,” adding it will “keep following closely the development of this provocative act.”

Later on Thursday, the Philippine Maritime Police, backed by National Polilce chief Gen. Alan Purisima, said no shots were fired during the apprehension of the poachers, contrary to Beijing's claim. They virtually debunked also Beijing's claim the arrest was "premeditated" and meant to provoke China, stressing that the apprehension came after a five-day operation against a flurry of illegal fishing activities in south Palawan.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/86353/chinese-poachers-arrest-by-ph-was-premeditated-to-stir-up-tensions---beijing