Manila challenges Chinese warship in disputed waters
MANILA: The Philippines Coast Guard said it drove away a Chinese warship in the South China Sea, in another sign of tension between the two nations in the disputed waters.
In a statement yesterday citing a July 13 report, the Coast Guard said it had sent a verbal challenge to Chinese warship spotted at Marie Louise Bank. The Chinese vessel eventually moved away from the area, the statement said.
The foreign vessel sent a radio message identifying itself as “Chinese Navy Warship 189” and asked the Philippine ship tailing it to keep distance, the Coast Guard said.
The two nations have been locked in a standoff in the South China Sea for months, after hundreds of Chinese ships swarmed the disputed territory earlier this year. The Philippines has repeatedly protested the ships’ presence and has been backed by the US, while Beijing has said its actions were normal and legitimate.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said yesterday in Beijing that he was unaware of the matter and directed questions to other authorities.
Also, President Rodrigo Duterte once again floated the idea of a vice-presidential run in the 2022 elections, saying it would give him immunity from lawsuits.
“They keep on threatening me with lawsuits and everything,” he said at his ruling party’s assembly meeting on Saturday, referring to his political enemies. “But the law says if you’re president, vice president, you have immunity. So I’ll just run as vice president.”
His political party has urged him to seek the vice presidency after his term ends next year.