Philippines protests China boats near island

MANILA: The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of more than 200 Chinese boats near an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea. The Foreign Affairs Department protested against the vessels near the Philippines-occupied Thitu island, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday. The Chinese ambassador said they were fishing boats. “The mere fact that they are there and just staying there for a week, why? What are they doing there?” Panelo said.