Latest news with #SpratlyIslands
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Chinese forces patrol Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea to ‘defend sovereignty'
The Chinese military and coastguard on Saturday launched a sea and air combat readiness patrol around Scarborough Shoal , known as Huangyan Island in China, to 'further strengthen its control and defend its sovereignty', according to an official statement. Advertisement The show of force came a day after China's state broadcaster aired rare footage of Chinese military drills in contested waters near the Spratly Islands, known as the Nansha Islands in China, highlighting Beijing's ability to take military action in the event of 'sudden military threats.' The Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it had deployed forces to patrol the waters and airspace as part of its continuous efforts this month to strengthen control over the area. A statement released by the command on Saturday said the Chinese coastguard had also patrolled the area, adding that the coastguard had been monitoring, warning and expelling ships that had entered the waters. The patrols come about a month after China and the Philippines accused each of provocative actions near the contested Scarborough Shoal following a tense encounter between two coastguard vessels. Advertisement
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Philippines says China has no right to interfere in ‘lawful' South China Sea activities
Foreign ministry spokesman Teresita Daza said they are clearly within their rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research. (EPA Images pic) MANILA : The Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also 'rejects and refutes' recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China between them have claims and a presence on dozens of features in the Spratly archipelago, ranging from reefs and rocks to islands, natural and artificial. China's manmade islands there include runways, radar towers, ports and missile systems. 'We urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea,' foreign ministry spokesman Teresita Daza said in a statement. China and the Philippines traded accusations last week following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running row in the strategic waterway. The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed reef. The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef, a Chinese-built artificial island, and organised personnel to land on the unoccupied sandbars of Sandy Cay. 'The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so,' Daza said. 'China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities.' China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's expansive claim has no basis under international law. The Chinese embassy in its statement sent to media on Monday said the Philippines had, since January, made 27 'unauthorised landings' on features, despite a 2002 agreement among Southeast Asian countries and China to refrain from doing so.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Philippines Says China Has No Right to Object or Interfere with Its ‘Lawful' Activities in South China Sea
The Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also "rejects and refutes" recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China between them have claims and a presence on dozens of features in the Spratly archipelago, ranging from reefs and rocks to islands, natural and artificial. China's manmade islands there include runways, radar towers, ports and missile systems. "We urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea," foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement. China and the Philippines traded accusations last week following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running row in the strategic waterway. The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed reef. The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef, a Chinese-built artificial island, and organized personnel to land on the unoccupied sandbars of Sandy Cay. "The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so," Daza said. "China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities." China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's expansive claim has no basis under international law. The Chinese embassy in its statement sent to media on Monday said the Philippines had since January made 27 "unauthorized landings" on features, despite a 2002 agreement among Southeast Asian countries and China to refrain from doing so.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Philippines says China has no right to object to ‘lawful' activities in South China Sea
The Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also 'rejects and refutes' recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China between them have claims and a presence on dozens of features in the Spratly archipelago, ranging from reefs and rocks to islands, natural and artificial. China's manmade islands there include runways, radar towers, ports and missile systems. 'We urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea,' foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement. China and the Philippines traded accusations last week following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running row in the strategic waterway. The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed reef. The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef, a Chinese-built artificial island, and organized personnel to land on the unoccupied sandbars of Sandy Cay. 'The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so,' Daza said. 'China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities.' China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's expansive claim has no basis under international law. The Chinese embassy in its statement sent to media on Monday said the Philippines had since January made 27 'unauthorized landings' on features, despite a 2002 agreement among Southeast Asian countries and China to refrain from doing so.
Reuters
5 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Philippines says China has no right to object or interfere with its 'lawful' activities in South China Sea
MANILA, May 29 (Reuters) - The Philippine Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with the Philippines' lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also "rejects and refutes" recent statements of the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands.
