China’s coast guard expels Philippine vessels from Scarborough Shoal
- In Reports
- 12:16 PM, Apr 30, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Tuesday, China's coast guard said that it “expelled” a Philippine coast guard ship and another vessel from waters adjacent to the Scarborough Shoal, reported the Chinese state media.
"On April 30, the Chinese Coast Guard, in accordance with the law, expelled Philippine coast guard ship 4410 and government ship 3004 after they intruded into the waters adjacent to Huangyan Island," the Coast Guard said in a statement, referring to the Scarborough Shoal by its Chinese name.
According to a report from the Chinese state media broadcaster CCTV, the coast guard did not furnish further details. Nonetheless, this incident marks the most recent in a series of clashes between the two nations at the contested atoll in the South China Sea.
Scarborough Shoal is a flashpoint between the two nations. The Philippines considers it within its exclusive economic zone, an area where it has special rights regarding resources. However, China also claims the shoal.
Both countries have accused each other of aggressive actions in the area in recent months. The Philippines even summoned a Chinese diplomat to express their disapproval.
China and the Philippines had previously pledged to improve communication and management of conflicts in the expansive South China Sea. However, tensions have escalated recently, particularly following the Philippines' strengthened diplomatic and military relations with the United States.
China asserts control over nearly the entire South China Sea, a crucial route for over $3 trillion in annual maritime trade. This area includes territories also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China's claims lacked legal basis.
Image source: Reuters
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