AT SEA/CHINA: Chinese surveillance vessels patrol the disputed South China Sea amid escalating tensions with the Philippines

Record ID: 1403717

  • Title: AT SEA/CHINA: Chinese surveillance vessels patrol the disputed South China Sea amid escalating tensions with the Philippines
  • Date: 4th July 2012
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 3, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, LIU WEIMIN, ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA CAMERAS FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, LIU WEIMIN, SAYING: "I want to point out that China hopes that peace and stability is maintained in the Asia Pacific area, and also hopes that the relevant sides will do more for peace and stability in the region." LIU WEIMIN SPEAKING AT PODIUM
  • Embargoed: 18th July 2012 20:54
  • Keywords:
  • Location: At Sea, China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAU9R8491728780YZHG8SNZRB7
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: State media reported on Tuesday (July 3) that Chinese patrol ships were moving through the disputed waters of the South China sea for a maritime inspection.
    It comes amid increasing tensions with the Philippines over the region.
    The patrol team of four surveillance ships was deployed from south China's coastal city of Sanya on June 26, and is expected to travel more than 4,500 kilometers (2,400 nautical miles), in a bid to protect the country's maritime interests, the official Xinhua news agency said.
    The vessels reached the disputed Scarborough Shoal reef on Sunday (July 2), Xinhua added.
    China Central Television (CCTV) showed pictures of patrol ships enforcing what China calls 'law and order within China's territorial waters'.
    Tensions have worsened since President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino said his government may ask the United States to deploy spy planes over the area to help monitor its waters China has accused its neighbour of deliberately stirring up tensions over the disputed South China Sea, and warned that Beijing's patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
    Speaking during a daily news conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin urged all sides to move towards peace and stability in the region.

    "I want to point out that China hopes that peace and stability is maintained in the asia pacific area, and also hopes that relevant sides will do more for peace and stability in the region," he said.
    China and the Philippines only recently stepped back from a month-long standoff over the resource-rich Scarborough Shoal, a horseshoe-shaped reef near the Philippines.
    China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia all have claims in the South China Sea, but China's claims encompass almost all its waters.
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