Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard has taken photos but could not arrest the Chinese fishermen who continued taking live sharks, clams, corals, and other endangered marine products near the Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea, a spokesman said.

 

 

 

This has been happening on the third week of the standoff between China and the Philippines in the contested area, 230 kilometres west of Subic Bay in central Luzon, said Foreign Affairs Spokesman Raul Hernandez.

 

 

 

The Philippine Coast Guard could not arrest the Chinese fishermen because high level negotiations are going on between Manila's Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Beijing's envoy in Manila Ma Keqing, said Hernandez,.

 

 

 

Counterpart talks are being held in Beijing by the Philippine ambassador to China and China's foreign minister, said Hernandez.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Chinese Embassy's spokesman Zhang Hua said China has only one Maritime Surveillance ship near the Scarborough Shoal as of Tuesday.

 

 

 

Two Chinese vessels, identified as Yuzheng 130, and Chinese Maritime Surveillance ship no 084 left the area of Scarborough Shoal, said Zhang.

 

 

 

De-escalating the tension near Scarborough Shoal has begun on Sunday, said Zhang.

 

 

 

"The withdrawal of the two ships proves once again China is not escalating the situation as some people said, but de-escalating the situation," Zhang said, who added, "China is ready to settle this incident through friendly diplomatic consultations.

 

 

 

In response, Hernandez, Manila's foreign affairs spokesman, said that China's action and words area often e species, but before the crew of a Philippine Navy ship could make arrests, two Chinese vessels blocked their path.

 

 

 

The standoff has attracted emotional cyber-war involving Filipino and Chinese bloggers; and destruction of government websites in China and the Philippines.

 

 

 

It began on April 8 when two (private) Chinese vessel blocked the Philippine Navy's warship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, preventing Philippine monitoring ships from arresting Chinese fishermen in eight fishing vessels, who were allegedly taking live sharks, clams, and corals near the Scarborough Shoal.

 

 

 

China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea. Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim some parts of it, including areas in the Spratly Archipelago, based on the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).