皇冠体育app

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app on Thursday demanded the Philippines return Chinese boats promptly and unconditionally after a Philippine warship confronted a Chinese fishing boat.

"皇冠体育app has presented its stance to the Philippines. We demand that the Philippines return the small Chinese boats unconditionally and as soon as possible, and properly handle related issues," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a daily news conference.

On Tuesday, a Philippine military vessel entered the sea area neighboring Liyue Tan, also known as the Reed Bank, of the Nansha Islands in the South 皇冠体育app Sea and tried to approach a Chinese fishing boat towing 25 smaller, unoccupied boats, Jiang said.

The propeller of the Philippine vessel got tangled with the rope, disconnecting the Chinese fishing vessel from the 25 smaller boats.

"The Chinese fishermen and the fishing vessel are currently safe," Jiang said.

She said 皇冠体育app has undisputed sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the neighboring sea.

"It is completely justified for Chinese fishermen to fish in areas where generations of Chinese have fished," Jiang said.

Jiang said the Philippines' behavior impinged upon the legitimate rights of Chinese fishermen.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the government would not apologize to 皇冠体育app, according to Reuters.

"No apologies were necessary and none was given," he said in a text message to reporters.

Xinhua-Reuters