Chinese ships no longer in Panatag

MANILA, Philippines - Chinese warships left Panatag Shoal the other day.

A senior security official said maritime and aerial monitoring showed no sign of any Chinese ship within the immediate vicinity of Panatag nor within its 75-nautical-mile radius.

“Since the other day, there have been no Chinese vessels monitored in the area,” said the official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said his inquiries into the matter have yet to be answered by concerned authorities.

Coast Guard spokesman Lt Cmdr. Armand Balilo said he is still blank on the matter as of yesterday.

Located 124 nautical miles from Zambales, Panatag served as an impact point during joint air training exercises between Filipino and US fighter pilots prior to the shutting down of Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base in December 1991.