Navy to ask China boats to leave Pagasa

Navy to ask China boats to leave Pagasa

• Written by  Fernan J. Angeles and Mario J. Mallari
• Friday, 27 July 2012 

The military’s Naval Forces West (Navforwest) would ask the Chinese fishing boats spotted within the Philippines’ territorial waters near Pagasa Island to leave the area, which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) or the Spratlys in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

Navforwest chief Commodore Rustom Pena yesterday said his command has monitored on Wednesday more or less 20 Chinese fishing vessels only five nautical miles from the Philippine-occupied Pagasa Island in the KIG.

“We will assert our sovereignty in the area because that’s our territory,” Pena said. “If the situation warrants, we will advise them that that’s our territory and they should leave.”

Over at the Palace, amid assertions that the Philippines was ready to got to war given an invasion by foreign forces, President Aquino appealed to the public to stop toying with the thought of armed conflict.
In an ambush interview, Aquino who was at the 114th founding anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said persistent discussion of possible military action would only contribute more tension and increase prospects of armed conflict..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/nation/item/2096-navy-to-ask-china-boats-to-leave-pagasa