Philippines accuses China of damaging its vessel in disputed South China Sea shoal

Source: CNA

BEIJING: The Philippines on Tuesday (Apr 30) accused China's coast guard of harassment and damaging one of its boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea, and rejected Beijing's position that it had expelled two vessels from the hotly contested shoal.

The Philippine coast guard said its two vessels stood their ground at the Scarborough Shoal, a key battleground in the South China Sea, but one sustained damage from use of water cannon by two Chinese coast guard ships.

"This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China coast guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels," Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said in a statement.

"They were not deterred and will persist in carrying out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety."

No country has sovereignty over the strategically located Scarborough Shoal, a prime fishing patch used by several countries that is close to major shipping lanes. The shoal falls inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

China has occupied the atoll for more than a decade and waters around its lagoon, which has long been a sanctuary for vessels during storms, have been the site of multiple confrontations in recent years.

China's coast guard said the vessels had been expelled but did not provide details of the incident.

"China urges the Philippine side to immediately stop its provocative acts of infringement and do not challenge China's firm determination to safeguard its sovereignty," said Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, at a regular press briefing.

"China's coast guard took necessary measures in line with the law to firmly expel them."