Philippines Denounces Chinese Fishing Boat for Collision

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) in the Luzon Strait, Philippines, on March 1. The United States can now deploy troops to Philippine military bases near the disputed Spratly Islands. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin V. Cunningham/Released

MANILA—The Philippines on June 12 denounced the crew of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with a Philippine vessel and left 22 Filipino fishermen abandoned in the disputed South China Sea.

The collision took place near the Reed Bank on Sunday, the defense ministry said, adding that a Vietnamese fishing boat rescued all the fishermen. “We denounce the actions of the Chinese fishing vessel for immediately leaving the incident scene, abandoning the 22 Filipino crewmen to the mercy of the elements,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.