This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/malaysia-says-100-china-boats-intrude-into-its-waters/2016/03/25/391c5f30-f250-11e5-a2a3-d4e9697917d1_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Malaysia says 100 China boats intrude into its waters Malaysia says 100 China boats intrude into its waters
(about 4 hours later)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — About 100 China-registered boats have been detected encroaching into Malaysian waters near the Luconia Shoals in the South China Sea, a Malaysian minister said. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — About 100 Chinese-registered boats have been detected encroaching in Malaysian waters near the Luconia Shoals in the South China Sea, a Malaysian minister said.
Shahidan Kassim, a minister in charge of national security, said the government has dispatched the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the navy to the area to monitor the situation.Shahidan Kassim, a minister in charge of national security, said the government has dispatched the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the navy to the area to monitor the situation.
Shahidan was quoted by the national Bernama news agency on Friday as saying that legal enforcement action would be taken if the Chinese vessels are found to have entered Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone.Shahidan was quoted by the national Bernama news agency on Friday as saying that legal enforcement action would be taken if the Chinese vessels are found to have entered Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone.
Shahidan and other ministry officials could not be immediately reached for comment. Shahidan and other ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have overlapping claims. Tensions have ramped up since China began a massive land reclamation program in the strategically vital sea lane in 2013. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Friday that Chinese boats have a right to be in the waters.
Home to some of the world’s busiest sea lanes, the area is also rich in fisheries and may hold oil and natural gas reserves under the seabed. “I want to point out that it is the fishing season in the South China Sea now, and according to usual practice, Chinese fishing vessels are fishing normally in the relevant waters at this time each year,” Hong said.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have overlapping claims. Tensions have ramped up since China began a massive land reclamation program in 2013.
The strategically important area has some of the world’s busiest sea lanes and is also rich in fisheries and may hold underground oil and natural gas reserves.
___
Associated Press writer Didi Tang in Beijing contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.