Philippines Accuses China Anew Of Flaring Tensions

The Philippines accused China on Wednesday of sending more government and fishing vessels to a contested shoal in the South China Sea despite ongoing talks to resolve a two-month-old naval standoff. Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the number of Chinese vessels at Scarborough Shoal increased to 96 on Tuesday. They included four government ships, fishing boats and dinghies. He said the Philippines has only two vessels in the area. Hernandez said that despite a seasonal fishing ban imposed by both countries to prevent overfishing, Chinese vessels were observed fishing and collecting protected corals.—AP

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