United States: We don’t want to see Chinese Navy intimidate Filipino fishermen

From Update.Ph (Mar 4): United States: We don’t want to see Chinese Navy intimidate Filipino fishermen  

“We are aware of these press reports regarding Chinese vessels operating near Jackson (Quirino) Atoll, and these are in contested areas of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea),” United States Department of State spokesperson Mark C. Toner said in a press briefing in Washington, D.C. March 2.

“As we have mentioned before, President Obama and leaders of the ASEAN countries in February at Sunnylands confirmed their commitment to maintain peace, security, safety, including freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, as well as non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities in that region, the South China Sea,” Toner added.

“We don’t want to see them using their ships to exert or to – how do I put this. We don’t want to use them – see them using their ships, their navy to intimidate other fishing vessels in that region,” he added.

Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Command head Vice Admiral Alexander on Wednesday said the reported Chinese vessels have left the said atoll. “In fact the last air patrol on Feb. 24 reveal that Filipino fishermen are there,” Lopez said.

http://www.update.ph/2016/03/united-states-we-dont-want-to-see-chinese-navy-intimidate-filipino-fishermen/3022