According to a English-content Chinese website chinadaily.com.cn, a Chinese Patrol Ship have already reached the Chinese-claimed Huangyan island in the South China Sea to depend it’s territorial waters and shield the Chinese fishermen from har(–foul word(s) removed–)ment against foreign forces particularly the Philippine Navy. China claimed that the group of islands which rightfully belongs to the Philippine territory according the 200 miles exclusive economic zone of the Philippines was part of it’s territorial waters.
The Chinese Patrol ship is one of the most advanced surveillance ship in the world today. The 2,580-tonne ship has the capabilities of carrying helicopters. According to local Chinese authorities the Chinese fishermen have been har(–foul word(s) removed–)ed by the Philippine Navy gunboat for the past few years and one of the most recent har(–foul word(s) removed–)ment came last week.
Due to the har(–foul word(s) removed–)ment made by the Philippine gunship to the fishermen, the villagers were asking support from the Chinese navy to protect them from further har(–foul word(s) removed–)ment. Last week, a Chinese fishing vessel was arrested by Philippine Navy because of intrusion to the disputed island which is only 124 nautical miles from Zambales, a clear Philippine territory if referred to the 200 nautical mile EEZ by the United Nations.
The Chinese government have also filled protest to the Filipino diplomats regarding the har(–foul word(s) removed–)ment issue accused by the Chinese fishermen. Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying on Wednesday summoned the charge d’affaires of the Philippine Emb(–foul word(s) removed–)y in China to lodge a representation over the incident at Huangyan Island following a previous summons on Sunday.
Huangyan Island as what the Chinese have named, was part of their territorial claimed without observing the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which clearly states that the territorial waters of a country is within the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The Scarborough Shoal is only 124 nautical mile off the coast of Zambalez, Philippines.
The Yusheng 310 is the third vessel belonged the Chinese Navy to hold patrol in the disputed island in the South China Sea. The Philippines most modern-ship as of today is the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF15). It is a Philippine Navy Frigate acquired from the United States Coast Guard and was commissioned as part of the Philippine Navy’s fleet.
The BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF 15) is a 3,250 tons probably lower due to the some adjustments on its fighting armaments. It served formerly as a US Coast Guard Cutter named as USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715). The Philippine Navy Frigate is the largest ship of the Philippine Navy. It is one of the two BRP Del Pilar that served the Philippines, the other one BRP Del Pilar (PF-8) was junked already after serving the Vietnam War and the Philippine Navy.
