A senior official from Manila has given the new defense plan of the Philippines for the South China Sea to Japan’s Kyodo News on May 6 following the capture of a Chinese fishing vessel containing about 500 turtles and 11 crew, which they later on detained, on the same day.

CCTV, a Chinese state broadcast network, said that the shoal was a major fishing area for their country’s fishermen. The Qiongqionghai 09063 was seized around 10:00 AM near Hasa Hasa Shoal to the Philippines and named Banyue Shoal to China.

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Meanwhile, another Chinese vessel, the Qiongqionghai 03168, successfully escaped the arrest by Philippine and Vietnamese coast guards and returned to China. The captured fishing vessel was towed to Palawan province in the Philippines.

On the same day of capturing the Chinese vessel, the Philippine official gave new defense guidelines to the Japanese publication showing a new framework in protecting the interest of the Philippines against the possible maritime expansion of China.

The draft said that the Philippines would be deploying two seaplanes to Thitu and Spratlys Islands and two patrol vessels. Two more ships would also be deployed to the Nashan Island and Commodore Reef.

The Philippines has planned to construct a total of nine stations to administer satellite ocean surveillance around the Nanshan Island to be completed in 2016.

The defense plan also showed that a marine brigade would be deployed to defend the islands, known as the Kalayaan island group to the Philippines, under the administration of the country. Satellite and airfield communications are being established on Thitu and other surrounding islands.

The Spratly Islands are on the hot list of disputed territories and reefs located in South China Sea. The said islands are claimed in whole or in part by different countries including China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines.

TagsKalayaan islands group, Thitu Islands, Commodore Reef