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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Filipino forces would dismantle any floating barrier that China’s coast guard may install in the disputed South China Sea, a Philippine admiral said Wednesday after Manila infuriated China by removing one such obstruction in a contested shoal.
Beijing warned Manila on Tuesday not to "stir up trouble" after the Philippine Coast Guard said it had removed a floating barrier at a disputed reef that was allegedly deployed by China to block Filipinos from the traditional fishing ground.
MANILA, Philippines — China has defended its installation of floating barrier in Panatag Shoal, saying it was a “professional, restrained” action “necessary” to block and drive away a Philippine vessel.
Manila asserted its full rights to remove any obstructions at the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Tuesday, reported AFP. National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano declared, "The Philippines is well within its rights to eliminate any barrier at Bajo de Masinloc, as it encroaches upon our maritime rights," using the Philippines' indigenous name for the reef.Earlier, Beijing cautioned Manila against "provoking unrest" when the Philippine Coast Guard disclosed that it had dismantled a floating blockade at the disputed reef, believed to have been placed by China to obstruct Filipino access to their traditional fishing grounds.China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, while multiple other nations, including the Philippines, assert overlapping territorial claims within the region.Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano pledged to undertake "all necessary measures" to remove barriers established by the Chinese coast guard at the reef, referred to as Scarborough Shoal by Manila, in the contested waters.
BEIJING: Beijing on Tuesday warned Manila not to "stir up trouble" after the Philippines Coast Guard said it removed a floating barrier at a disputed reef that was allegedly deployed by China to stop Filipinos from accessing the traditional fishing ground."China firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the Huangyan island," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, adding: "We advise the Philippines not to provoke or stir up trouble."
MANILA: The Philippines said on Tuesday there were no signs of a standoff at a fiercely contested, China-held shoal in the South China Sea, a day after its coastguard severed a floating barrier installed by Beijing to block its fishermen. China's coastguard had even removed remnants of the ball-buoy barrier from the Scarborough Shoal, a Philippine coastguard spokesperson said, adding Beijing was measured in its response to the presence of the vessel, which reached its closest point to the strategic atoll since China seized it in 2012. With coastguard personnel posing as fishermen in a small boat, the Philippines said on Monday it executed a "special operation" to cut the 300-m (980-ft) barrier at the shoal, one of Asia's most contested maritime features, a move that could further strain ties that have deteriorated in the past year. Coastguard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said four Chinese vessels were in the area when a Philippine ship approached and were "not that aggressive", adding it was clear media were on board the Philippine ship.
MANILA, Philippines — Beijing warned Manila on Tuesday not to "stir up trouble" after the Philippine Coast Guard said it removed a floating barrier at a disputed reef that was allegedly deployed by China to block Filipino fishermen from the area.