Adds Chinese vessel was “besieged” by Filipino fishing boats while “berthed” in area
(Eagle News)–The Chinese embassy has admitted it was a Chinese boat that hit a Filipino fishing boat near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea on June 9.
But in a statement, the embassy said the Chinese fishing boat Yuemaobinyu 42212, from Guangdong, was “berthed” at the area when seven or eight Filipino fishing boats “besieged” it.
“During evacuation, 42212 failed to shun a Filipino fishing boat, and its steel cable on the lighting grid of larboard bumped into the Filipino pilothouse. The Filipino fishing boat tilted and its stern foundered,” the embassy said.
According to the embassy, the Chinese captain “tried to rescue the Filipino fishermen, but was afraid of being besieged by other Filipino fishing boats.”
It said that there was no such thing as a hit-and-run incident as the Chinese vessel left only after confirming “the fishermen from the Filipino boat were rescued on board of other Filipino fishing boats.”
“The Chinese side attaches great importance to China-Philippines friendship and safety of life at sea, and will continue to properly handle this issue with the Philippines in a serious and responsible manner,” the embassy said.
“The two sides are maintaining close communication through diplomatic channels,” it added.
The Philippines has decried what it said was the Chinese vessel’s act of abandonment of the 22 Filipino fishermen who were rescued by a Vietnamese vessel.
