Philippines puts disputed ocean research study amid China’s ‘harassment’ | South China Sea News

Several Chinese CoastGuard vessels have been accused of conducting ‘aggressive maneuvers’ towards Philippine fishing boats.

The Philippines says it has suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after its fishing vessels faced “dangerous harassment” and aggressive behavior from China’s coast.

The Philippine Coast Guard said on Saturday that three Chinese Coast Guard vessels and four small boats were “aggressively maneuvered” to Philippine facilities that were in the way of sand mining near Philipping Island on Friday.

A Chinese military helicopter flew at an “unsafe height” over the debris, he said.

The two countries have been engaged in a long-running series of escalating tensions in disputed areas of the South China Sea for years. China says that in all the strategic waterways, where $ 3 trillion of commerce flows every year, claims arise from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

That request was announced as the basis of the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague, a decision Beijing does not recognize.

“Due to the ongoing harassment and lack of respect for security displayed by the Chinese forces”, research activities have been suspended, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

Despite the “dangerous conflict”, no accidents occurred, the coast added.

In its statement, the China Coast Guard said that China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands, including SAYY SHAY – which China calls two Philippine islands and expelled them according to the law.

The China Coast Guarter said that Philippine vessels had entered the waters near the teef of teef without permission and tried to “land” illegally “in the cave to collect sand samples.

Thitu lies about 430 km (267 miles) from the main Philippine island of Palawan, and 500 km) from the mainland of Hainan Island.

Chinese forces laid down the subi reef near Thitu.

And on Friday, Philippine forces were reactivated and patrolled without incident as the forces suspected a derelict ship in the Thomas Shoal in the Stratlys, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Manila deliberately grounded the ship, in the Sierra Madre, Reef to assert its claim to this area.

The Philippine government raised the alarm this month over Chinese ships approaching the main Philippine island of Luzon, calling it a “tactical tactic” by Beijing.

China rejected the allegations, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying the patrols were ‘going by the law’.

Manila and Beijing agreed during a round of talks on January 16 to seek a common ground and find ways to cooperate despite disagreements in the South China Sea.