OV-10 bomber plane sent to drive away Chinese patrol boats By Mario J. Mallari 03/04/2011

OV-10 bomber plane sent to drive away Chinese patrol boats

By Mario J. Mallari 03/04/2011
The military’s Western Command (Westcom) on Wednesday dispatched an OV-10 bomber plane to drive away two Chinese patrol boats reportedly harassing a Department of Energy (DoE) ship out on an exploration mission at the Reed Bank on the disputed Spratly Group of Islands.

Westcom chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban yesterday said that he dispatched the aircraft after receiving reports that two Chinese patrol ships attempted to drive away DoE personnel exploring at the Reed Bank at around 9:30 a.m.

“The Chinese patrol boats went near those who were conducting exploration in the area, which is well within our territory, and told them (DoE personnel) to stop and leave the area because it is a Chinese territory,” said Sabban.

However, Sabban stressed that Reed Bank is well within the Philippine territory but maintained there was no military presence in the area before the reported harassment by the Chinese..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110304nat4.html