Yahoo News
Date: May 3, 2015
By: Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Coast guard vessels from the Philippines and Taiwan engaged in an hourslong standoff after the Philippine patrol boat tried to tow away a Taiwanese fishing vessel for alleged poaching, the Filipino coast guard spokesman said Wednesday.

The waters in the overlapping exclusive economic zones have been a source of tension between the two Asian neighbors. Two years ago, a Philippine coast guard patrol fired on a Taiwanese fishing boat, killing a crew member and straining otherwise friendly relations.

Cmdr. Armand Balilo said that the Taiwanese fishing boat was caught last week 33 kilometers (18 nautical miles) off Batanes, one of the Philippines’ northernmost islands just south of Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]