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Philippines convicts Chinese fishermen of poaching rare turtles | Philippines convicts Chinese fishermen of poaching rare turtles |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A court in the Philippines has found nine Chinese fishermen guilty of poaching and catching an endangered species in the South China Sea. | A court in the Philippines has found nine Chinese fishermen guilty of poaching and catching an endangered species in the South China Sea. |
Police found more than 500 sea turtles on their boat when the fishermen were intercepted at sea in May. | Police found more than 500 sea turtles on their boat when the fishermen were intercepted at sea in May. |
They were stopped at a shoal near the Spratlys, a chain of islands which both China and the Philippines claim. | They were stopped at a shoal near the Spratlys, a chain of islands which both China and the Philippines claim. |
The fishermens' arrests has strained relations between both countries. China has demanded their release. | The fishermens' arrests has strained relations between both countries. China has demanded their release. |
Philippines authorities had caught 11 fishermen on the boat, but later released two of them as they were found to be minors. | Philippines authorities had caught 11 fishermen on the boat, but later released two of them as they were found to be minors. |
The remaining nine were each fined $100,000 (£63,800) for poaching and 120,000 pesos ($8,800; £5,600) for taking protected wildlife by a court in Palawan province on Monday. | The remaining nine were each fined $100,000 (£63,800) for poaching and 120,000 pesos ($8,800; £5,600) for taking protected wildlife by a court in Palawan province on Monday. |
If the fishermen cannot pay the fine, they will have to serve a jail sentence and can only be freed in May 2015. | If the fishermen cannot pay the fine, they will have to serve a jail sentence and can only be freed in May 2015. |
The Philippines' foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the court's decision should not further complicate ties with China, and told AFP news agency: "This is a purely law enforcement matter." | The Philippines' foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the court's decision should not further complicate ties with China, and told AFP news agency: "This is a purely law enforcement matter." |
But China had said the fishermen were in Chinese territorial waters and that the arrests were a "provocation". It had warned of retaliation if they were not released. | |
The arrests came at the height of tensions in the South China Sea among China and several South East Asian countries over maritime disputes. | The arrests came at the height of tensions in the South China Sea among China and several South East Asian countries over maritime disputes. |
The Philippines has filed a case against China's maritime territorial claims with a United Nations tribunal. China has refused to take part in the arbitration. | The Philippines has filed a case against China's maritime territorial claims with a United Nations tribunal. China has refused to take part in the arbitration. |
Last week, China's defence minister Chang Wanquan said his country was considering opening defence hotlines with South East Asian countries to manage disputes. | Last week, China's defence minister Chang Wanquan said his country was considering opening defence hotlines with South East Asian countries to manage disputes. |
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