Philippines condemns Chinese boats' 'illegal' actions in South China Sea
MANILA : The Philippines condemned "illegal" actions by Chinese vessels on Friday after the boats allegedly interfered in another resupply mission to a remote military outpost in the disputed South China Sea. Philippine Coast Guard vessels were escorting supply boats to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands when they encountered Chinese coast guard and "militia" boats, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said. While the cargo was successfully delivered to the handful of Filipino troops stationed on a grounded navy ship, the task force said Chinese vessels had carried out "harassment, dangerous maneuvers, and aggressive conduct" towards the Philippine boats."The Task Force strongly deplores and condemns the continued illegal, aggressive, and destabilizing conduct of the CCG and the CMM within our nation's EEZ," said the task force, using the acronyms for the Chinese vessels and the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone.
