Philippines tells China to mind its own business over maritime drills

In this undated handout photo received from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on April 25, 2021, coast guard personnel conduct maritime exercise near Thitu island in the disputed South China sea. - AFP

MANILA (Reuters): China has no business telling the Philippines what it can or cannot do within its waters, Manila's defence ministry said on Wednesday (April 28), rejecting Beijing's opposition to its ongoing coastguard exercises.

Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters China has "no authority or legal basis to prevent us from conducting these exercises" in the South China Sea because "their claims... have no basis."