Talks on Sino fishers at Scarborough up

Chinese Ambassador Fu Ying has agreed to tackle the continued presence of Chinese fishing vessels in the disputed Scarborough Shoals with its foreign and agricultural ministries following the Philippines' call for restraint in action in the area, Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said yesterday.

Siazon disclosed it appeared the Chinese officials were unaware of the incidents in the shoal as they earlier claimed there were too many Chinese fishing vessels to monitor by their maritime authorities.

He averred Fu could not give an assurance that the Chinese fishermen could be prevented from entering the shoal since the decision would have to come from higher Chinese officials.

On the country's part, Siazon said the Philippine Navy would continue to employ maximum tolerance on foreign vessels poaching on Philippine-claimed territories to avoid any regrettable incidents.

The Navy allowed nine Chinese fishing vessels to seek shelter in the shoal to escape bad weather on March 8.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Luisito Fernandez said a patrol ship would remain in the area to make sure that the Chinese fishing vessels would leave as the weather improved.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lauro Baja Jr. announced that Philippine ambassador to Beijing Romualdo Ong had relayed the Phippine concern over the incident to Fu upon orders of the department.

Baja said Beijing should be reminded of the importance of avoiding another accidental sinking of a Chinese fishing boat in the area.

The Navy rammed and sank two Chinese fishing boats in separate incidents last year and chased off another with gunfire last month.

Baja added the Philippines would hold off filing a diplomatic protest while waiting for a reply to their request that the fishing boats be pulled out.