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DATE=7/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251950
TITLE=PHILIPPINES / CHINA BOAT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MIKE COHEN
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  THE PHILIPPINES HAS EXPRESSED REGRET OVER THE SINKING 
MONDAY OF A CHINESE FISHING BOAT IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA NEAR THE 
DISPUTED SPRATLY ISLANDS.  AS MIKE COHEN REPORTS FROM MANILA, 
THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH INCIDENT IN AS MANY MONTHS.   
TEXT:  PHILIPPINE FOREIGN MINISTER DOMINGO SIAZON CALLED THE 
SINKING OF A CHINESE FISHING BOAT NEAR LIKAS AND PANATA ISLANDS  
UNFORTUNATE.     
THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT CLAIMS LIKAS AND PANATA.  CHINESE 
OFFICIALS SAY THE ISLANDS  ARE PART OF CHINA .  TAIWAN, VIETNAM, 
MALAYSIA AND BRUNEI ALSO CLAIM ALL OR PART OF THE ISLANDS AND  
SHOALS THAT MAKE UP THE SPRATLYS.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT  A CHINESE FISHING VESSEL HAS BEEN 
SUNK BY A PHILIPPINE NAVAL BOAT IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.  THE 
FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MAY. 
PHILIPPINE NAVY COMMANDER VICE ADMIRAL EDUARDO SANTOS  DEFENDED  
MONDAY'S CONFRONTATION.  HE SAYS THE NAVAL PATROL BOAT WAS 
INVESTIGATING A REPORT OF FISHING BOATS ENGAGED IN 
CYANIDE-FISHING --  A PRACTICE BANNED BY BOTH THE PHILIPPINE AND 
CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.
PHILIPPINE OFFICERS FROM THE WESTERN COMMAND TOLD V-O-A NEWS 
SMALL ARMS FIRE CAME FROM ONE OF TWO FISHING BOATS AS THEY 
APPROACHED.  THEY SAY THE VESSELS COLLIDED CAUSING ONE FISHING 
BOAT TO SINK.  THE   CHINESE CREWMEN FROM BOTH THE SUNKEN VESSEL 
AND THE OTHER FISHING BOAT WERE PICKED UP BY THE PHILIPPINE NAVY 
AND RELEASED.
CHINESE OFFICIALS SAY THEY CONSIDER THE INCIDENT VERY SERIOUS AND
EXPRESSED THEIR DISPLEASURE. 
PHILIPPINE FOREIGN MINISTER DOMINGO SIAZON SAYS THE INCIDENT WILL
BE INVESTIGATED AND THAT THE PHILIPPINES VALUES ITS RELATIONSHIP 
WITH THE CHINESE. 
RELATIONS BETWEEN BEIJING AND MANILA HAVE ERODED IN THE PAST YEAR
AFTER THE PHILIPPINES PROTESTED THE BUILDING OF SEVERAL CONCRETE 
STRUCTURES ON MISCHIEF REEF,  IN THE SPRATLY ISLANDS.  MANILA 
SAYS THEY ARE MILITARY FACILITIES.  BEIJING CLAIMS THEY ARE 
FISHING SHELTERS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/MC/GC/JO/PLM
20-Jul-99 7:07 AM EDT (1107 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.