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Philippine Navy shots fire to avoid smash with Chinese vessels

MANILA: The Philippine Navy said on Saturday that it was forced to fire warning shots to avert a collision with two Chinese fishing boats sailing near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

The latest incident, which occurred near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China, was made public on Friday, a day after China rejected protests filed by Manila over the alleged entry of four Chinese fishing boats in the area last month.

China and the Philippines both claim the shoal, a rocky outcrop about 120 nautical miles west of the Philippines' main Luzon island.

In a report to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Navy said one of its boats spotted the two Chinese vessels on Wednesday afternoon.

"Upon sighting the vessels, (a Philippine Navy boat) attempted to contact them by radio through the marine band but failed after several attempts," the report said.

"(The Navy boat) made a closer approach to the fishing vessels, which were manoeuvring in various directions and signalled the vessels by flashing lights and (megaphone).

"It was at this point, after about an hour from the initial sighting that the commanding officer of the (Navy boat) decided to fire warning shots of three rounds in the opposite direction of the fishing vessels."

The Navy said the warning shots was meant to prevent an accidental collision as the fishing vessels continued with their evasive manoeuvres.

It said the fishing vessels left the area near Scarborough Shoal before midnight on Wednesday.

Manila and Beijing have had a history of skirmishes over Scarborough Shoal and also over the Spratly Islands, a cluster of potentially oil-rich isles, reefs and outcrops in the South China Sea.

The Spratlys, which straddle strategic sea lanes, are claimed in part by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei and disputes over area are common. -Reuters