DATE=11/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242272
TITLE=PHILIPPINES / SPRATLYS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RUTH YOUNGBLOOD
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

 INTRO:  THE PHILIPPINE NAVY HAS ARRESTED 20 CHINESE FISHERMEN ON
BOARD SIX FISHING VESSELS NEAR A SOUTH CHINA SEA REEF CLAIMED BY 
MANILA AND BEIJING.  AS RUTH YOUNGBLOOD REPORTS FROM MANILA, THE 
ARRESTS ARE EXPECTED TO ANGER CHINA.

TEXT: THE PHILIPPINE ARMED FORCES WESTERN COMMAND REPORTED MONDAY
THE FISHERMEN WERE INTERCEPTED FIVE NAUTICAL MILES FROM MISCHIEF 
REEF -- IN THE SPRATLY ISLANDS -- AND BROUGHT TO A NAVY 
DETACHMENT IN PALAWAN.  

OFFICIALS SAY CHARGES OF ILLEGAL FISHING AND ENTRY WOULD BE FILED
AGAINST THE CHINESE -- ARRESTED WITHIN THE PHILIPPINES' 
322-KILOMETER EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE.  THE INTRUSION CAME JUST 
AS TENSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINES WERE EASING OVER 
CHINA'S RECENT ACTIVITIES ON MISCHIEF REEF. 

TENSION FLARED LAST MONTH WHEN MANILA ACCUSED BEIJING OF SENDING 
ARMED NAVAL VESSELS TO THE AREA TO BUILD WHAT THE PHILIPPINES 
SAID LOOKED LIKE CONCRETE STRUCTURES FOR MILITARY USE. BEIJING 
CONTENDED THE FACILITIES WERE ONLY SHELTERS FOR FISHERMEN AND 
NEEDED RENOVATION.  ACKNOWLEDGING THE PHILIPPINES' OUTDATED 
MILITARY IS NO MATCH FOR CHINA'S MIGHT, PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA 
AGREED TO CHINA'S OFFER FILIPINO FISHERMEN SHARE THE MISCHIEF 
REEF SHELTERS. 

  MISCHIEF REEF IS PART OF A CLUSTER OF SMALL ISLANDS AND 
OUTCROPS CLAIMED WHOLLY OR IN PART BY CHINA, THE PHILIPPINES, 
TAIWAN, VIETNAM, MALAYSIA AND BRUNEI. THE AREA IS BELIEVED TO BE 
RICH IN OIL AND GAS.  

CHINA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC ZONE UNDER THE 
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA AND CLAIMS ALL OF
THE SPRATLYS ARE HISTORICALLY-CHINESE TERRITORY.  MANILA'S 
DEFENSE SECRETARY, ORLANDO MERCADO, HAS ACCUSED CHINA OF 
LAUNCHING A CREEPING INVASION. 

 A 1995 DIPLOMATIC BATTLE OVER CHINESE BOATS ON THE REEF 
CONCLUDED IN THE SIGNING OF A CODE OF CONDUCT AIMED AT PREVENTING
ARMED CONFRONTATION IN THE TENSE AREA.  OFFICIALS SAY THE 
FISHERMEN DETAINED SUNDAY WILL BE INTERROGATED BY REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE PROVINCIAL BUREAU OF FOOD AND DRUGS. THEY SAY FISH, PUMPS 
USED FOR CYANIDE FISHING, NETS, BOATS ENGINES AND TWO DEAD 
ENDANGERED TORTOISES WERE SEIZED FROM THE BOATS. (SIGNED)

NEB / RY / GC / WD

30-Nov-98 2:59 AM EST (0759 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.