Several Chinese coast guard vessels accused of carrying out “aggressive maneuvers” towards Philippine fishing boats.
The Philippines says it has suspended a scientific study in the South China Sea after its fishing vessels faced “dangerous harassment” and aggressive behavior from China’s coast guard and navy.
The Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday that three Chinese Coast Guard vessels and four smaller boats made “aggressive maneuvers” toward two Philippine Bureau of Fisheries inflatable boats that were on their way to collect sand samples at Sandy Cay , near the island of Thitu occupied by the Philippines, Friday. .
A Chinese navy helicopter also flew over these machines at a “dangerous altitude”, according to the press release.
The two countries have for years engaged in a series of increasingly intense clashes in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. China claims almost the entire strategic waterway, through which $3 trillion in trade passes each year, overlapping with claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
This claim was declared unfounded by the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague, a decision that Beijing does not recognize.
“Due to this continued harassment and disregard for security demonstrated by Chinese maritime forces,” investigative operations have been suspended, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Despite the “dangerous clashes”, no accidents took place, the coast guard added.
In its own statement, China’s coast guard said China had “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands, including Sandy Cay – which China calls Tiexian Reef – and that it had intercepted two Philippine vessels and hunted in accordance with the law.
The Chinese coast guard said the Philippine vessels entered waters near Tiexian Reef without authorization and attempted to “illegally” land on the reef to collect sand samples.
Thitu is about 430 km (267 miles) from the main Philippine island of Palawan and more than 900 km (560 miles) from China’s nearest large landmass, Hainan Island.
Chinese forces garrisoned Subi Reef, near Thitu.
Also Friday, Philippine forces resupplied and rotated without incident troops manning an abandoned navy ship stranded on the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratlys, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Manila had deliberately beached the ship Sierra Madre on the reef to assert its claim to the area.
The Philippine government sounded the alarm this month over Chinese coast guard vessels patrolling closer to the main Philippine island of Luzon, calling it an “intimidation tactic” by Beijing aimed at discouraging fishing. Filipino.
China rejected the claim, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson saying the patrols were “in accordance with the law”.
Manila and Beijing agreed in a round of negotiations on January 16 to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite their disagreements in the South China Sea.
