MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese research vessel that was earlier allowed to “seek shelter” in Philippine waters “never intruded,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. told a Senate panel on Thursday.
Emerging from an executive session of the Senate foreign relations committee, Locsin tweeted that the issue regarding Chinese research ship Jia Geng has been “cleared up.”
“Chinese vessel never intruded; enter our territory seeking refuge even as China asked permission,” he said.
TY Senate Foreign Relations, now cleared up: Chinese vessel never intruded; enter our territory seeking refuge even as China asked permission; Coast Guard never attempted to board because it is illegal to try; Chinese vessel left right after storm passed. No intrusion. Period. https://t.co/W3TAgWIWed
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 4, 2021
“Coast Guard never attempted to board because it is illegal to try; Chinese vessel left right after storm passed. No intrusion. P…
Keep on reading: Chinese research ship sought ‘refuge, never intruded,’ Locsin tells senators