Slide show: PHL Navy confronts Chinese fishing vessels in disputed waters

With a newly refurbished 115-meter patrol boat, the Philippine Navy asserted the nation's sovereignty in the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, stopping and boarding several Chinese fishing vessels carrying giant clams, blacktip sharks, and other species headed for mainland restaurants. Chinese government surveillance ships soon arrived to block any further effort by the Navy's BRP Gregorio del Pilar to arrest the Chinese fishermen. As of Wednesday afternoon, the two sides had reached an impasse, with Filipino and Chinese sailors staring at each other across a stretch of sea while diplomats sought to calm nerves and find a peaceful solution. The Armed Forces of the Philippines provided the photos for the slide show below. -- Photos courtesy of AFP Northern Luzon Command