South Korea's coast guard said it fired 249 warning shots over a group of Chinese fishing boats "swarming around" one of its patrol ships in South Korean waters, prompting a call for restraint from Beijing. Current top breaking Philippine headlines regarding the nation, world, metro manila,
SEOUL — South Korea's coast guard said it fired 249 warning shots over a group of Chinese fishing boats "swarming around" one of its patrol ships in South Korean waters, prompting a call for restraint from Beijing. South Korean coast guard vessels regularly chase Chinese boats suspected of fishing illegally in South Korean waters, at times sparking violent confrontations, complicating a relationship which is key to efforts to try to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. A fleet of 44 Chinese fishing boats fortified with iron bars and steel mesh on Tuesday began to rush the patrol boat which broadcast warnings to steer clear, the coast guard said. The coast guard vessel fired 249 shots over the boats until they retreated. "The Chinese fishing boats sought to swarm around and collide with our patrol ship, ignoring the broadcast warnings," the coast guard said in a statement.
