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| A China Coast Guard ship (File Photo) |
By Cecil MORELLA
Jonathan Almandrez was chased away from the rich fishing grounds of a South China Sea lagoon by a Chinese patrol -- something he hopes will stop happening if the Philippines wins an international legal case against Beijing.
The incident at Scarborough Shoal, a necklace of reefs and rocks that Filipino fishermen say hosts some of the world's most abundant marine life, is part of a long-running territorial row that sits at the heart of a UN backed tribunal expected to rule in the coming weeks.
"I was angry at their gall to shoo us away when we were clearly inside Philippine territory," said the 30-year-old, who used a pseudonym as he did not want to be identified for fear of potential Chinese repercussions.
Almandrez -- who provided mobile phone footage of the encounter to AFP -- said for two hours on June 7, Chinese coast guard patrol boats circled a wooden outrigger carrying 10 Filipino fishermen.
The patrol boats got within about two metres (six feet) of the vessel, which had been fishing the reefs just outside the shoal before daylight betrayed them to the Chinese.
"Transfer to another area! No fishing inside," the Chinese patrol personnel shouted in English, according to Almandrez.
"You go (back) to China because this is the property of the Philippines," Almandrez recalled shouting back.
The Filipino crew eventually left when a much larger Chinese vessel began to approach and they feared it would fire water cannon.
Video footage shows two patrol boats flying Chinese flags and with the English words "CHINA COAST GUARD" on the side.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily