Philippines removes Chinese ‘floating barrier’ in South China Sea after ‘special operation’

The Philippines on Monday (September 25) said it has executed a “special operation” to remove a “floating barrier” installed by China at a prime fishing patch in an area in the South China Sea claimed as theirs by both countries. 

This comes a day after Manila’s coastguard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources “strongly condemned” the move and accused the Chinese coastguard of preventing Filipinos from entering the area and fishing. 

About the ‘special operation’

The Philippine coastguard said that at the behest of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his special task force on the South China Sea, they have removed the floating cordon. 

Manila earlier shared images of the Chinese coast guard policing a long, ball-buoy barrier near the Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop some 200 kilometres away from the Philippines. 

ALSO READ | South China Sea: Philippines to drag China to international court for damaging coral reefs in EEZ

The site has been at the centre of sporadic flare-ups over sovereignty and fishing rights. “The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law. It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk,” said the Philippine coastguard.

It described the shoal as “an integral part of the Philippine national territory”. 

What has China said about the incident?

Earlier on Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry defended the actions of its coast guard as “necessary measures” after a Philippine bureau of fisheries vessel “intruded” into its waters on Friday.

“The Chinese coastguard have taken necessary measures in accordance with the law to intercept and drive away Philippine vessels, and the relevant operations are subject to professional restraint,” said the foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. 

ALSO READ | Philippines accuses China of installing 'floating barrier' in South China Sea

Debate over the shoal

The control over the disputed shoal has been a sensitive issue for China after a Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, in 2016, ruled in favour of the Philippines. After Manila took legal action against China’s claim to 90 per cent of the South China Sea which the court said had no basis under international law. 

However, China has refused to recognise the landmark ruling.

On Monday, Beijing reiterated its claim and said the shoal, which it calls Huangyan Island, was “China’s inherent territory,” over which it had indisputable sovereignty.

It is also worth noting that while the tribunal did not rule on sovereignty over the shoal, the site is located within the Philippines’ 322-kilometre exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and has previously said that the area is a traditional fishing site for several countries. 

(With inputs from agencies)

 

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.