China says grounded frigate is leaving disputed South China Sea zone

Source: Reuters

A Chinese frigate that ran aground in disputed waters close to the Philippines was freed on Sunday and heading home, averting a possible standoff with Philippine vessels amid rising tensions in the strategic South China Sea.

The sea has become Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint as Beijing's sovereignty claim has set it against Vietnam and the Philippines as the three countries race to tap oil reserves.

In all six parties have rival claims to the waters, which were a central issue at an acrimonious Asean regional summit last week that ended with its members failing to agree on a concluding statement for the first time in 45 years.

On Friday the Chinese navy said one of its vessels had run aground on Half Moon Shoal, about 90 nautical miles (170km) off the western Philippine island of Palawan, prompting Manila to send two of its vessels and reconnaissance aircraft to the area.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/15/china-frigate-south-china-sea