Beijing calls for Philippines to remove grounded warship

WORLD, Aug 08 (YPA) – China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday repeated its call for the Philippines to tow away a grounded warship at Ren’ai Jiao in the South China Sea.

“We insist once again that the Philippine side immediately withdraw the ship that was stranded in Ren’ai Jiao and restore the situation to what it was,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

The ministry noted that Beijing had lodged a serious protest with Manila on the matter.

China’s Foreign Ministry said it “maintains through many channels” contacts to discuss the issue with the Philippines, which “ignores the good intentions and sincerity of the Chinese side.”

During the recent incident in the Ren’ai Jiao water area, the Chinese coast guard “worked professionally and with restraint to safeguard its country’s sovereignty, rights and interests at sea,” the statement said.

E.M