InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
The Scarborough Shoal dispute between the Philippines and China has just gone up a notch.
The Hainan Meteorological Bureau announced it was now issuing weather forecasts for two islands and one reef in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Huangyan Island, also known as Panatag (or Scarborough) Shoal, is one of these, according to an online report by China Central Television (CCTV) News.
The local weather bureau is also releasing forecasts for Yongshu Reef and Yongxing Island.
They began making the announcements on May 16 to "help ensure the safety of fishing vessels and offshore industries," according to CCTV News.
"Seasonal rains on the South China Sea not only affect our southern regions, but other areas in China," Hainan Meteorological Bureau Deputy Director Luo Jianping told CCTV News. "It is very important to have a weather forecasting service for the whole region."
"Our monitoring systems have improved, so we have the ability to do this," he added.
According to CCTV News, the meteorological radio station broadcasts these weather forecasts "every hour, 18 times a day."
This number may even increase, according to CCTV News, "to cover weather alerts in extreme conditions."
Local media has also begun broadcasting these weather updates. InterAksyon.com
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