South China Sea: Philippine Coast Guard: Chinese “barrier” removed

The Philippines’ coast guard says it has removed a “floating barrier” installed by China in a disputed region of the South China Sea. “The barrier posed a danger to shipping, a clear violation of international law,” wrote Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the island nation’s coast guard, on Monday evening (local time) on X (formerly Twitter). It also hindered the work of Filipino fishermen. Tarriela also posted a video showing divers cutting ropes with knives in the sea.

Authorities said on Sunday that China had set up a 300-meter-long chain of buoys around 230 kilometers west of the Philippine northwest coast. Their elimination is in accordance with international law, the spokesman said.

Outrage in Manila

Just a few hours earlier, Beijing had re-emphasized its claim to the area. The Huangyan Island, as the area in China also known as Scarborough Reef, legally belongs to the territory of the People’s Republic, said Foreign Office spokesman Wang Wenbin in Beijing. A ship belonging to the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Authority attempted to enter the atoll last Friday without Chinese approval. Chinese authorities intercepted the boat in accordance with the law, he said.

The barrier was discovered during a routine Philippine patrol in the southeastern part of Scarborough Reef, also known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Southeast Asian country – and caused outrage in Manila. On Monday morning (local time), National Security Advisor Eduardo Año announced that all necessary measures would be taken to remove the barrier and thus “protect the rights of our fishermen in the region.”

China and the Philippines lay claim to Scarborough Reef. It was the focus of a military incident between the two countries in 2012, after which Beijing quickly occupied the reef. Although a court ruled in 2016 that China’s historic rights to the area were no longer valid, Beijing does not recognize the ruling.