Beijing to keep investigating Chinese-Filipino boat collision

Beijing said on Monday it will continue to investigate thoroughly and carefully the collision of Chinese and Filipino boats in the South China Sea, and handle the incident properly with Manila based on facts and in a cooperative and friendly manner.

A Chinese fishing boat and a Filipino fishing boat collided accidentally in the waters near Liyuetan in the South China Sea on June 10, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

Extending China's condolences to the Filipino fishermen who experienced the collision, Lu emphasized the collision was an accident, and said China and the Philippines have communicated several times over the incident.

"It is not appropriate to link the incident to the friendly feelings between the two countries' people or the ties between the two countries or to even politicize the incident," Lu said.

China hopes to strengthen communication with the Philippines to exchange what they have found in their own investigations and find out what happened exactly, Lu said.

Fishermen of the two countries have been getting along well in the South China Sea and have been looking out for each other, the spokesman said, adding that China attaches great importance to maritime security and will continue to strengthen cooperation with countries along the South China Sea.