China cites 'legalities' in blocking Philippines vessels entering disputed shoal

The Philippine warships carrying “illegal construction materials” to a warship at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea were “lawfully” blocked, according to a statement released by China’s coast guard on Sunday.

China and the Philippines have clashed multiple times in the South China Sea in recent months, most notably over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, which is a part of the Spratly Islands.

The China Coast Guard has been dispatching vessels to obstruct the resupply attempts because the Philippines has been providing supplies to soldiers stationed on a transport ship that was converted into a military outpost on the shoal during World War Two.

Last week, the Philippine military demanded China stop its “dangerous and offensive” actions, after a Chinese navy ship shadowed and attempted to cut off a Philippine navy vessel conducting a resupply mission.

China had warned the Philippines against further “provocations”, saying such acts violated its territorial sovereignty.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, pointing to a dotted line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis.

(With inputs from agencies)