Chinese militia vessel rescues 2 Filipino fishermen in Spratly Islands–Xinhua report A Chinese militia vessel rescued two Filipino fishermen in the Spratly Islands, the Chinese state media outfit Xinhua reported.
Xinhua claimed that the Filipino fishermen approached China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval vessel “Aba” for assistance help while the vessel was on its way in the eastern maritime zone of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea.
One of the fishermen suffered wounds inflicted by propeller blades, the Xinhua report said. However, the Xinhua report did not give specific details on the date of the reported rescue.
The Xinhua report added that Chinese medics extended medical assistance to the wounded fishermen. Xinhua also reported that the Chinese Coast Guard informed Filipino authorities about the rescue through a communication hotline between the two countries.
The Philippine Coast Guard has yet to issue a statement on the incident. China earlier denied it was involved in the destruction of coral reefs in parts of the West Philippine Sea, saying the accusations have no factual basis. “We urge relevant parties of the Philippines to stop creating a political drama from fiction,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Instead, China urged the Philippines to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal “if it is really concerned about the environment.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has suspected China of harvesting corals in Rozul Reef, before dumping the “processed” coral reefs in some parts of the West Philippine Sea. Last month, China demanded the Philippines remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, claiming that it had obtained a promise that it would be towed away.
