‘Normal’ for China’s research vessels to seek humanitarian shelter in coastal states, says envoy enablePagination: false endIndex: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 5)— Chinese research vessels have long been seeking humanitarian shelter from coastal states, including the Philippines, should they encounter rough sea conditions, Beijing’s ambassador to the country said Friday. “It is very normal for a scientific research vessel to seek humanitarian shelter from a coastal state,” Ambassador Huang Xilian said in an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, adding that the two nations have been “rendering assistance to each other on such humanitarian occasions” for many years now.