MANILA, Philippines, April 28 (UPI) -- The Philippines government said Saturday it will not be provoked into a violent confrontation with China over an uninhabited atoll to its west.
Both countries and Taiwan claim Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatog Reef in the Philippines. The triangular atoll of reefs and rocks is in the middle of important fishing grounds.
The atoll is in a sea known, depending on the country, as the South China Sea and the West Philippines Sea.
Abigail Valte, a deputy spokeswoman for the president, said the Philippines plans to pursue its claim to the atoll through international tribunals, The Philippine Star reported.
The coast guard and the Department of Foreign Affairs accused China of "bullying" Philippine vessels Friday. Vice Adm. Edmund Tan, the coast guard's commander, said a Chinese fisheries law enforcement vessel tried to scare two coast guard ships away.
Philippines officials say they have been documenting all Chinese ships.
