The Philippine defence minister says Manila is "gravely concerned" over reports a Chinese warship has fired a warning shot on a Filipino fishing boat in the disputed South China Sea.
China has been rapidly expanding its occupied reefs in the Spratly archipelago, alarming other claimants and drawing sharp criticism from the United States, Japan and Europe.
The fishing boat was reportedly near a reclaimed reef when the shot was fired.
"If indeed this happened, it is a cause of grave concern," Philippine defence minister Voltaire Gazmin told journalists in a text message from Tokyo, where he has been accompanying president Benigno Aquino on a four-day state visit.
Update: Manila "gravely concerned" over reported Chinese warning shot at sea -- Reuters
WNU Editor: If true ..... this is a dangerous escalation.
No comments:
Post a Comment