First they’re in, and now they’re out. Chinese fishing vessels have left the lagoon of the disputed Panatag Shoal as of Friday morning, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez said Sunday.
The DFA spokesperson however said that the Philippine Coast Guard still spotted two Chinese marine surveillance vessels and a Fisheries and Law Enforcement vessel outside the Panatag Shoal’s lagoon.
Hernandez said the information came from an aerial survey conducted by the PCG on Friday morning.
Chinese representatives have yet to comment on this reported pullout of the fishing vessels as of posting time.
China initially withdrew its fishing vessels late last month but they returned after a few days.
This latest development in the dispute between China and the Philippines comes after President Benigno Aquino III urged the Chinese government to balance its statements with what is happening on the ground.
The Philippines denied issuing a provocative statement against China after China’s People’s Daily said in a commentary that the Philippines was deliberately stirring up tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
The standoff between Manila and Beijing began in early April when Philippine forces spotted Chinese fishermen gathering marine species at the Panatag Shoal. No arrests were made as Chinese vessels blocked Philippine ships from doing so.
Aquino has ordered the pullout of government ships in Panatag Shoal due to bad weather. There is no decision yet if the Philippine vessels will be redeployed to the area. -GMA News (July 08, 2012 9:41PM)
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