The Philippines will deploy several new patrol boats in waters off the northern parts of the country where its exclusive economic zone overlaps with that of Taiwan, a senior Philippine coast guard officer said Wednesday.
The Philippines is expected to receive 10 multi-role patrol boats from Japan soon. The boats come at a time when Manila is facing Beijing's increasing efforts to stake its territorial claim in the South China Sea, the Philippine media reported.
The boats will be used to patrol waters surrounding the country and protect its fishery resources, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Some of the new 40-meter boats will be deployed in waters in the northern Philippines, the officer added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued a statement Wednesday confirming a standoff with Taiwan's Coast Guard last week. The incident occurred when the PCG apprehended Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Ming Jin Cai No. 6, 18 nautical miles northeast of the Philippines' Batanes islands May 25, it said.
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