China’s coast guard said it has taken “control measures” against Philippine ships after finding the latter near a disputed reef in the South China Sea without permission, according to a statement.
“The China Coast Guard followed the Philippine ships in accordance with the last, took control measures, and made temporary special arrangements for the Philippines to transport food and other necessary supplies,” a spokesperson for China Coast Guard, Gan Yu said.
“The Philippines’ actions violate China’s territorial sovereignty, violate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and violate its own commitments,” he added. “We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its infringing actions.”
The Chinese Coast Guard reportedly followed two small Philippine transport ships and three coast guard ships after apparently finding them entering the waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed location. This is the latest in a series of incidents raising tensions between the two countries as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has shown assertiveness against Chinese incursions in disputed waters. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, where trillions of dollars in trade passes through annually, and has ignored a 2016 international ruling indicating its assertion has no basis.
Over the last 10 years, Beijing has deployed vessels to the disputed waters to patrol. Artificial lands were built where military units have been found to be settling.
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