BEIJING: China’s coast guard took measures to drive away a Philippine navy gunboat on Tuesday after it entered into waters around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, according to an official statement.
Despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side, the coast guard asserted it had implemented “necessary measures,” including guiding the gunboat out and controlling its course.
China maintains its claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over the shoal, referred to as Huangyan Island, and the nearby waters. In the preceding month, the Philippine coast guard reported dismantling a 300-meter floating barrier erected by China, which impeded access to the contested area controlled by Beijing for more than a decade.
Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu emphasized the urgency for the Philippines to cease its perceived infringement, characterizing the actions as a serious breach of international law. This incident follows China’s warning to the Philippines a day earlier, cautioning against further “provocations” at a South China Sea atoll. China asserted that such acts not only violated its territorial sovereignty but also contravened international law, disrupting regional peace and stability.
Recent strains between the Philippines and China can be attributed, in part, to the Philippine president’s efforts to strengthen defence ties with Washington. This includes proposals for expanded access to Philippine troops, ostensibly for training and humanitarian purposes, exacerbating the diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
