RP: Stop inaccurate reports China: Don’t ‘internationalize’ By Michaela P. del Callar 04/26/2012

GOV’T ISSUES NOTE VERBALE TO CHINESE ENVOY

RP: Stop inaccurate reports China: Don’t ‘internationalize’

By Michaela P. del Callar 04/26/2012

The Philippines and China traded fresh accusations yesterday over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea with the government complaining to China yesterday that its embassy in Manila have been relaying inaccurate information about the negotiations to resolve the dangerous naval standoff at the Scarborough shoal while the Chinese government warned against efforts to “internationalize” the issue.

At the same time, the Department of Foreign Affairs also reported that the number of Chinese and Philippine vessels facing off at the shoal has increased with the rival countries having two government ships each there now along with an increasing number of Chinese and Filipino fishermen.

China warned the Philippines not to “internationalize” the dispute as US and Philippine forces staged war games in the area.

“Internationalizing this issue will only complicate and magnify the situation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters in response to a question about the current situation in the dispute..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120426hea1.html