Chinese Ships seen in Ph waters

Philippine President Aquino said that two survey vessels from China had been sighted in the Philippine EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) raising a heightened tension concerns in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

China government claims almost all part of SCS (South China Sea/West Philippine Sea) that known to be rich in gas resources and has enormous oil deposits. Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also claim the sea where USD 5 trillion of ship goods passes annually.

"Recently, we got a report from the armed forces that there were two hydrographic ships in Recto Bank, about 80 nautical miles off Palawan, clearly within our exclusive economic zone," President Aquino told on a television interview aired last Sunday.

"What are they doing there? What kind of studies are they conducting? I hope that their presence will not lead to amplify tension."

The tension in South China Sea between China and Philippine began in 2011 when a Chinese patrol ship harassed a survey ship hired by the Anglo Filipino Forum Energy which won a contract to explore the Philippine Reed Bank.

Last month, the Forum Energy PLC obtained its approval from Philippine government to extend another year in its drilling plan for a natural gas project in the Reed Bank. The company is expected to complete its exploration by August 2016 to assess the amount of gas or oil findings.