Philippines suspends research in disputed sea amid Chinese ‘encroachments’ | South China Sea News

Several Chinese coast guard vessels have been accused of making “aggressive maneuvers” against Philippine fishing boats.

The Philippines says it has suspended scientific research in the South China Sea after fishing vessels faced “dangerous harassment” and aggressive behavior by the Chinese coast guard and navy.

The Philippine Coast Guard said on Saturday that three Chinese coast guard vessels and four small boats made “aggressive maneuvers” toward two Philippine Bureau of Fisheries inflatable boats that had set out to collect sand samples from Sandy Cay off the coast. Titu Island occupied by the Philippines on friday.

A helicopter of the Chinese navy also flew over the ship at a “safe height”.

The two countries have long been engaged in escalating conflicts in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the strategic waterway through which $3 trillion in trade passes annually, overlapping with claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

This was the claim declared unfounded Beijing does not recognize a decision by the Hague International Court of Arbitration.

The Philippine Coast Guard said survey operations were suspended “as a result of this continued aggression and disregard for security displayed by the Chinese navy.”

The coast guard added that despite “dangerous confrontations”, there were no accidents.

The Chinese Coast Guard said in a statement that China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands, including Sandy Cay, which China calls Tiexian Reef, and seized the two Philippine vessels and expelled them in accordance with the law.

The Chinese Coast Guard said Philippine vessels entered the waters near Tiexian Reef without permission and attempted to “illegally” land on the reef to collect sand samples.

Thitu is located approximately 430 km (267 mi) from Palawan, one of the main islands of the Philippines, and 900 km (560 mi) from Hainan Island, the nearest large landmass in China.

Chinese forces garrisoned Subi Reef Near Thitu.

Also on Friday, Philippine forces resupplyed and rotated troops manning an abandoned naval ship docked at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratlys without incident, the foreign department said.

Manila deliberately scuttled the ship, Sierra Madreto stake a claim to territory on the reef.

The Philippine government this month raised the alarm over Chinese coast guard vessels patrolling close to Luzon, the Philippines’ main island, calling it a “scare tactic” by Beijing to discourage Philippine fishing.

China denied the claim, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying the patrols were “lawful”.

Manila and Beijing agreed in a round of talks on January 16 to reach common ground and find ways to cooperate despite their differences over the South China Sea.