US Sends N-Powered Submarine Near Disputed Shoal
A United States nuclear-powered submarine was spotted off the coast of Subic Bay Freeport Zone today at the height of the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China on its territorial dispute on Scarborough Shoal. A source from the US Embassy said the attack submarine is on its routine port visit to Subic and is scheduled to depart from the Philippine waters on May 19.
The USS North Carolina docked at Subic Bay Freeport on Sunday.
The presence of the US war vessel came a day before the Chinese government sets to impose a one-and-half month fishing ban in large swaths of South China Sea starting May 16, including the disputed Scarborough.
Reports reaching www.philstar.com also disclose that more war vessels will be coming to the Philippine shores in the coming days.
Apart from the disputed shoal, the China Fisheries Administration Bureau announced that the ban covers the entire area of Spratlys and other islands and reefs dotting the South China Sea.
The ban was announced amid escalating tension between Manila and Beijing over Panatag, which the Philippines said has been part of Masinloc town in Zambales since Spanish times.