MANILA, Philippines - A Navy ship scared off a Chinese fishing vessel it found within Philippine-claimed territory in the West Philippine Sea, accidentally hitting one of the foreign ship’s dinghies in the process.
Defense Department spokesman Zosimo Jesus Paredes said the PS-74 was conducting a routine patrol at the Recto Bank on Tuesday when it spotted the Chinese ship dragging 32 dinghies behind it.
"Hinahabol nila, nung sisitahin nung ating barko, tumakbo na yung mother ship nung fishing group, naiwan yung mga dinghies (They gave chase and when they were about to hail the ship, it fled leaving the dinghies behind)," Paredes recounted.
One of the dinghies was accidentally hit by the Navy ship. All the dinghies were unmanned.
Paredes said they have apologized before the Chinese embassy in Manila but stressed it was over hitting the dinghy and not for chasing off the foreign vessel.
"Nandito na sila sa Philippine waters eh (They were already in Philippine waters), in our territory, but because it's a fishing vessel, saka hindi ito yung modern fishing vessel (and it wasn’t a modern fishing vessel)," Paredes said.
He said an investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.
"Kung talagang napadpad lang sila na hindi sinasadya (If they merely drifted there and did not go there on purpose) then we will not consider that as an intrusion, understanding naman tayo (we are very understanding). Besides China is a friendly nation to us, pero kukunin natin yung puno't dulo nito (but we will get to the bottom of this)," Paredes said.
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