Manila says gas testing stopped after China boat incident

[phantom power]

(Reuters) - Seismic testing for gas in the South China Sea by an Anglo-Filipino consortium has been halted after an incident in which Manila says two Chinese boats threatened to ram a survey ship, the government said on Monday.

Last week, a Singapore-registered French-owned survey ship, conducting tests in the Reed Bank was stopped by two Chinese patrol boats. Beijing claims the area as part of its territorial waters in the South China Sea.

The Philippines insists the Reed Bank is within its sovereign territory and has awarded an exploration contract to the consortium to find and extract natural gas.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the seismic tests would resume after the Philippines and China hold talks to resolve the dispute. Manila will send maritime affairs experts to Beijing later this week for negotiations.

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/03/07/idINIndia-55379320110307?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=401

[Lasher]

1. There is a mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines

Just sayin'.