The Philippine government has refused to return the 25 Chinese vessels that were taken in the South China Sea and the case is to be resolved with the help of a third party, a local paper The Star said yesterday.

Sixteen Chinese fishing boats were brought by the Philippine Navy to Palawan Thursday. The rest of the boats were lost at sea due to bad weather on the way to the naval facility in Ulugan Bay, Philippine Armed Forces’ Western Command announced lon Friday.

China on Thursday demanded the Philippines return small Chinese boats promptly and unconditionally after a Philippine military vessel confronted a Chinese fishing vessel.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu at a daily press briefing on Oct. 20.

"China has presented its stance to the Philippines. We demand that the Philippines return the small Chinese boats unconditionally and as soon as possible, and properly handle related issues," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a daily press briefing.

On Tuesday, a Philippine military vessel entered the sea area neighboring the Liyue Tan, also known as the Reed Bank, of the Nansha archipelago in the South China Sea and tried to approach a Chinese fishing vessel towing 25 smaller, unoccupied boats, Jiang said.

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