Over in the South China Sea, a dispute is flaring between Manila and Beijing. The Philippines said Chinese vessels were conducting illegal marine scientific research in its waters, warning that aircraft and boats would be deployed to remove the Chinese ships. Cha Yun-kyung reports. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Sunday, local time, that Chinese vessels were conducting illegal marine scientific research in its waters. The PCG spokesman Rear-Admiral Jay Tarriela posted a statement on Facebook, saying the “PCG has determined that they are conducting illegal marine scientific research without the legal authority or prior consent of the Philippine government, in clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” He revealed the spots where the Chinese ships were spotted: Itbayat in the northernmost province of Batanes, near Rizal in Palawan within the vicinity of the disputed Jackson Atoll and another site close to the Scarborough Shoal. Tarriela warned that the aircraft and boats would be deployed to protect the sovereign rights of the Philippines. In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the Philippines to “immediately cease its dangerous actions” and keep its distance from Chinese boats. It said the Chinese research ships “are conducting normal scientific research activities and navigating normally in waters under Chinese jurisdiction, in accordance with Chinese domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” The two countries are at odds over sovereignty issues regarding the South China Sea. A Chinese coastal guard said on Sunday, local time, that Philippines crewmen landed on a rock in the South China Sea illegally, and it would deal with them under the law. Bloomberg reported that the Philippines has strengthened military ties with the U.S. to safeguard its claims in the disputed area, leading to repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels. Reuters said, “The Philippines and China have criticized each other in the South China Sea, raising tensions in the area.”
Source: Philippines accuses Chinese vessels of illegal marine research in South China Sea
Summary
Tensions in the South China Sea have escalated as the Philippines accuses Chinese vessels of conducting illegal marine scientific research without proper authorization. The Philippine Coast Guard stated that these activities violated international law and occurred at specific locations including Itbayat, near Rizal in Palawan, close to Jackson Atoll, and another site near Scarborough Shoal. Authorities warned that aircraft and boats would be deployed to remove the ships and protect sovereign rights. In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged Manila to cease what it described as dangerous actions, asserting that the vessels were conducting normal research within waters under Chinese jurisdiction according to domestic and international law. The dispute centers on sovereignty issues between the two nations. Reports indicate that the Philippines has strengthened military ties with the United States to safeguard its claims in the disputed area, leading to repeated clashes between their respective vessels. A Chinese coastal guard also noted that Philippine crewmen had landed illegally on a rock and would be dealt with under the law. These reciprocal criticisms have raised overall tensions in the region, highlighting the ongoing friction over maritime boundaries and resource rights.
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