The Philippine Coast Guard has accused China of “dangerous maneuvers” off the coast of the archipelago. According to Manila, Chinese coast guard ships carried out “four blockades” against a Philippine patrol boat.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed in early February to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen around the Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea, about 350 kilometers west of Manila. During that mission, the patrol boat was “followed” by four Chinese coast guard vessels, the Philippines said. The Chinese embassy in Manila has not commented on the incident for the time being.
Much to the chagrin of several neighboring countries, China claims sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea, an important crossroads for maritime trade routes. The Scarborough Reef came under Chinese control at the expense of the Philippines in 2012 following a confrontation between the two countries. A court in The Hague ruled in 2016 that Chinese rights to the area were invalid, but Beijing has refused to recognize that ruling.
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