China has blocked four Philippine vessels that attempted to “intrude into the territorial waters” of the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, the country’s coastguard said.
“On December 4, four Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels attempted to intrude into the territorial waters of China’s Huangyan Island and came dangerously close to the normal law enforcement and inspection vessels of China’s coastguard,” spokesperson Liu Dejun said in a statement on Wednesday morning, referring to the shoal’s name in Chinese.
“The Chinese side exercises control over the vessels in accordance with the law,” the statement said, adding that the four vessels were numbered 9701, 4409, 3002 and 3003.
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According a statement by the PCG, the PCG vessels conducted “a routine maritime patrol” under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to support Filipino fishermen in the area, and encountered “aggressive actions” from several Chinese coastguard vessels and two ships from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
One Chinese coastguard vessel fired a water cannon twice at a Philippine vessel and sideswiped it, the statement said.
The latest confrontation near the Scarborough Shoal comes as Beijing and Manilla attempt to legalise territorial rights under their domestic laws. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard alt=The latest confrontation near the Scarborough Shoal comes as Beijing and Manilla attempt to legalise territorial rights under their domestic laws. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard>
PCG vessels faced “blocking, shadowing and dangerous manoeuvres” from PLA Navy vessel 500 and CCG 503, and another vessel was subjected to “reckless manoeuvres” by a Chinese coastguard vessel at a distance of 300 yards (274 metres), it added.
In second statement issued later on Wednesday, China’s coastguard said PCG vessel 3003 ignored repeated warnings.
The Philippine ship swerved, reversed and deliberately rammed Chinese coastguard vessel 3302, creating a safety risk, the statement said, adding that the Philippines was engaging in “infringement and provocation and attempting to mislead the international community”.
The latest confrontation in the area between the two sides came amid recent attempts by Beijing and Manila – both claimants to the shoal – to legalise territorial rights to the shoal under respective domestic laws.
