China warship's live fire 'threat' forces PCG, fishermen to flee

A Chinese warship announced live fire exercises in waters some 90 nautical miles from the Zambales coastline yesterday morning, forcing Philippine Coast Guard vessels and dozens of Filipino fishing boats caught inside the designated danger zone to leave the area.

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PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel with bow number 525 made the broadcast around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16. The coordinates it declared covered the positions of the PCG vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Gabriela Silang at the time, as well as "a lot" of Filipino fishing boats near Scarborough Shoal.

After the Chinese side's short notice, Tarriela said the PCG immediately advised the fishermen to clear out of the marked area and that its vessels moved away and closer to Scarborough Shoal.