US voices concern on Chinese poachers in West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — The United States expressed concern over the latest maritime incident in the disputed West Philippine Sea which involved Chinese fishing vessels carrying endangered marine wildlife.

In a press briefing, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said they have seen reports that Philippine police have seized Chinese and Filipino fishing boats carrying illegally harvested sea turtles near Half Moon Shoal, an area very close to Palawan and locally known as Hasa-Hasa shoal.

"Given the United States works with the international community to combat wildlife trafficking, we are concerned that the vessels appear to be engaged in direct harvest of endangered species of sea turtles," Psaki said.

The American official, however, refused to weigh in beyond the environmental issue of the recent incident.

She urged China and the Philippines to "work together diplomatically" to resolve the matter.

The Philippines said Wednesday authorities seized a Chinese fishing boat with 11 crewmembers and carrying more or less 500 turtles and a local vessel more or less 40 turtles.

Philippine maritime police Chief Superintendent Noel Vargas said the Chinese and Filipino fishermen will face charges of violating Philippine laws prohibiting catches of endangered sea turtles.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said authorities seized the fishing boat and arrested its crew to enforce maritime laws and to uphold sovereign rights over the country's exclusive economic zone.

"Relevant authorities in Palawan will address the case in a just, humane and expeditious manner," the DFA said in a statement.

China, which earlier said via state media that officials lost contact with the 11 fishermen, demanded the immediate release of the Chinese boat and its crew.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines have lodged representations with the Philippine side.

She said China has "indisputable sovereignty over the contested shoal, which is claimed by the Asian giant as part of the Nansha island chain, known internationally as the Spratly Islands.

China lays claim to virtually the entire South China Sea and is locked in an increasingly heated dispute with the Philippines and other nations in the region.

Hua warned the Philippines against taking any "further provocative action." -with AP