China ‘harassment’ sparks RP diplomatic protest
By Michaela P. del Callar and Mario J. Mallari 04/17/2012The week-long naval standoff between the Philippines and China in the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea heats up anew after Manila yesterday filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing when its ships and an aircraft allegedly harassed a local boat conducting marine research in the area claimed by the Philippines as part of its territory.
Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing received the protest from Foreign Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio, the assigned Philippine negotiator while Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario is on a week-long US trip.
“Such actions are in violation of the sovereign right and jurisdiction of the Philippines to conduct marine research in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” said Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez, referring to an international law stipulating that countries have the right to exercise jurisdiction over waters within its 200-nautical mile zone..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120417hea2.html
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