TOKYO, June 15 (Reuters) - The Pacific island nation of Palau has asked the United States to step up patrols of its waters after several recent incursions by Chinese vessels into its exclusive economic zone, President Surangel Whipps Jr. told Reuters in an interview.
Palau identified Chinese vessels in its waters as recently as last month, when a ship appeared to be surveying an area near fibre optic cables vital to the country's communications, Whipps Jr. said.
He said he would raise the issue of the incursions at the regional Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in November.
The plan has been criticised by some local fishermen and neighbouring countries, including South Korea, China, and some Pacific island nations.
But Whipps Jr. said he was not opposed to the plan and that he sensed regional resistance was also waning.
Persons:
Surangel Whipps Jr, Whipps Jr, Whipps, Lloyd Austin, We've, Sakura Murakami, John Geddie, Michael Perry
Organizations:
Reuters, Pentagon, Pacific Islands Forum, U.S . Defense, U.S, ichi, Thomson
Locations:
TOKYO, Palau, United States, Washington, Beijing, Tokyo, Micronesia, Marshall, China, Solomon, U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Japan, South Korea