U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge Rescued 5 Pinoy Fishermen at Philippine Sea

Sailors attached to USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) rescue five stranded Filipinos whose fishing vessel suffered from mechanical difficulties. (Photo by MC3 Cody R. Babin, US Navy)

5 Pinoy fishermen rescued by US sailors

MANILA -- Five Filipino fishermen drifting in the Philippine Sea have been rescued by the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge, the US Navy said Thursday.

The boat of the Filipinos, who were not identified, encountered mechanical difficulties.

According to a report posted on the US Pacific Command website, USS Blue Ridge sailors initially noticed a small boat and a flag floating in the Philippine Sea.

After moving closer, they noticed that the boat was not moving, and several men were on board.

"We thought it was strange to see something in the water, so we slowed down to get a better look," said Ensign John Li, Blue Ridge officer of the deck during the response. "As we began looking for signs of distress, we noticed someone was waving a white T-shirt, while someone else was waving a flashlight."

One of the sailors, who said the boat "was being tossed around like a little toy," added that the men were jumping up and down inside their boat, trying to get the attention of those on board USS Blue Ridge.

Responding to the men’s need of immediate assistance, Blue Ridge deployed a boarding team via rigid-hulled inflatable boat and safely brought the five men on board the ship.

The Filipino fishermen were immediately provided with basic first aid, showers, and a change of clothes.

They were found to be suffering from hypothermia and were malnourished after spending three days on sea without food.

The Filipinos had been fishing at sea when their boat's motor stalled - ABS-CBN

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China rushing construction in a reef few Kilometers from Palawan Main island

Aerial surveillance images obtained by The STAR show Ma- bini Reef in March last year (left), with only one building that served as a temporary shelter for workers. The image on the right, taken recently, shows more structures and trees planted on the reef.

Philippines says China rushing construction in disputed sea

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' top diplomat said Thursday that China has been rushing construction projects, including massive land reclamation, in the disputed South China Sea in hopes of forestalling any legal moves against its vast territorial claims.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Chinese construction is aimed at bolstering its claims to virtually the entire South China Sea. He called Beijing's claims "invalid and excessive and in violation of international law."

The Philippines and other governments which have territorial disputes with Beijing in the busy sea have been particularly concerned by massive Chinese land reclamation projects that have turned a number of previously submerged reefs in the Spratlys archipelago into artificial islands with buildings, runways and wharves.

Alarmed by what it describes as increasing Chinese assertiveness, the Philippines sought international arbitration two years ago to challenge the legality of Beijing's claims.

China has ignored the Philippine legal challenge but a U.N.-backed tribunal in The Hague may hand down a ruling as early as next January or February, del Rosario said.

There also have been proposals for China and Southeast Asian nations to conclude a legally binding "code of conduct" restricting aggressive behavior that could spark armed confrontations in the disputed areas, which straddle some of the world's busiest sea lanes and are believed to have rich undersea oil and gas deposits.

"It is clear to us that China is accelerating its expansionist agenda and changing the status quo to ... control nearly the entire South China Sea before the conclusion of the code of conduct and the handing down of a decision of the arbitral tribunal," del Rosario said.

The Philippines has expressed concern that Beijing could transform its newly created islands into military logistical and resupply hubs to bolster its territorial claims and pose a more serious challenge to rival claimants.

The Philippines has protested the reclamation projects. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to Rosario's comments, but in the past Beijing has asserted its right to undertake any activity in territories it claims.

U.S. Sen. John McCain and three other top-ranking senators overseeing U.S. defense and foreign policy called last week for a comprehensive strategy to deal with China's territorial moves, including land reclamation and construction in disputed areas, warning that "longstanding interests of the United States, as well as our allies and partners, stand at considerable risk." - philSTAR

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