FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of a China Coast Guard ship navigating near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea, August 13, 2025. - Reuters
BEIJING: China’s coast guard said it took "control measures” against several Philippine government vessels operating near a disputed shoal Tuesday (Sept 16) as tensions with Manila continue to build over its long-running disputes in the South China Sea.
The two countries are at odds over control of the Scarborough Shoal, known in China as Huangyan Island, with repeated and sometimes violent clashes between ships at sea. Diplomatic tensions over the shoal resurfaced last week after China approved a plan to build a national nature reserve there, drawing criticism from the US, a defence treaty ally of the Philippines.
The Chinese coast guard said Philippine government vessels were "illegally operating” in the waters and didn’t specify what measures were taken.
The Philippines, Japan and the US deployed vessels and aircraft during a joint exercise in the South China Sea over the weekend, after which China warned Manila "to immediately cease provoking incidents and escalating tensions.” - Bloomberg
