A Chinese official admitted that it sent vessels to a disputed atoll in the South China Sea to tow a grounded Filipino ship.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the grounded ship had been “properly handled” after towing away.
But Philippine officials said china had stationed several ships near a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing traditional fishing grounds.
China deployed up to seven ships to Quirino atoll, also known as Jackson atoll, said Eugenio Bito-Onon Jr., the mayor of nearby Pagasa Island in the Spratly archipelago.
The Philippines star newspaper, which earlier reported the story, quoted an unidentified fisherman as saying Chinese boats chased them away when they tried to enter the area last week. (Eagle News Service)
