MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines charged nine Chinese fishermen Monday with poaching more than 500 endangered sea turtles at a disputed South China Sea shoal despite China’s demand for the fishermen to be immediately freed.
Prosecutor Allen Ross Rodriguez said two other arrested Chinese were minors and would be sent home. The nine Chinese have been charged with violating two provisions of the Philippine fisheries code, including illegally harvesting 555 endangered turtles, before a special environmental court in western Palawan province.
Police arrested the fishermen and seized the boat that was reportedly laden with the giant turtles, most of them dead, last week at the disputed Half Moon Shoal.
China has pressed the Philippine government to free the fishermen and the boat, saying they were apprehended in Chinese territorial waters.
The fishermen face up to 20 years in prison and fines of as much as $2,300 each. They can post bail but cannot leave the Philippines.