Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    April 11, 2012

Philippines Warship, Chinese Vessels in Standoff

   VOA News
   Philippine Navy flag officer-in-command vice admiral Alexander Pama
   presents to the media an undated file photo of a Chinese surveillance
   ship which blocked a Philippine Navy ship from arresting Chinese
   fishermen, April 11, 2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   Philippine Navy flag officer-in-command vice admiral Alexander Pama
   presents to the media an undated file photo of a Chinese surveillance
   ship which blocked a Philippine Navy ship from arresting Chinese
   fishermen, April 11, 2012.

   The Philippines said Wednesday one of its warships is engaged in a
   standoff with two Chinese surveillance vessels that blocked the arrest
   of Chinese fishermen in disputed waters of the South China Sea.
   The Philippines foreign ministry said the standoff began Tuesday when
   Manila's flagship naval vessel, the Gregorio del Pilar, confronted
   eight Chinese fishing boats near a disputed shoal off the northwest
   province of Zambales.
   It said the two Chinese surveillance vessels then positioned themselves
   between the Philippines Navy ship and the fishing vessels, "preventing
   the arrest of the erring Chinese fishermen."
   The Philippines summoned Ma Keqing, the Chinese ambassador in Manila,
   for talks on Wednesday, saying it preferred to resolve the dispute
   diplomatically. China has not commented on the issue.
   Both countries claim ownership of the shoal, which is known as Panatag
   in the Philippines, and as Huangyan Island in China.
   Tensions in the region have risen in recent years as China becomes
   increasingly assertive about its claims over the entire 3.5
   million-square-kilometer South China Sea, which is thought to be rich
   in oil and gas.
   There has been a series of run-ins involving fishermen, military
   patrols, and other vessels in the disputed waterway, parts of which are
   also claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

.