China Refutes Removal of Barrier at Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea
Beijing — In response to Philippine authorities removing a ‘floating barrier’ placed by China around Scarborough Reef (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has labeled it an ‘act of provocation’ and expressed opposition.
The Philippine Coast Guard discovered the barrier during a maritime patrol on September 22nd. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted the Philippine Coast Guard’s claim that the obstruction had been successfully removed, stating that the Philippines’ statement stands alone.
Spokesman Wang Wenbin emphasized China’s unwavering determination to protect the sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests of Huangyan Island, urging the Philippines to avoid provocation and trouble.
Previously, the Philippine authorities claimed that the barriers placed by China were aimed at interfering with the fishing activities of Filipino fishermen. China, however, stated that the Philippine vessel trespassed into the waters near Huangyan Island without permission and attempted to ram into the lake that had formed.
The Philippines has since removed the barrier, completing the demolition on September 25th.
Chinese Media Accuses Philippines of Involving the United States
Following the news of the Philippines’ removal of the barrier, Chinese state media has accused the Philippines of dragging the United States into the South China Sea issue.
According to analysts cited by Chinese English-language media Global Times, the situation around Huangyan Island is just another example of recent provocations by the Philippines in the South China Sea. The media claims that the Philippines is keen on relying on the United States, but asserts that the United States will not engage in a military conflict with China over the Philippines.
Chinese naval expert Zhang Junshe warned against misjudging China’s restraint and tolerance as weakness, stating that provocations will not serve the interests of the Philippines.
The Scarborough Reef area, located 240 km west of Luzon, the main island of the Philippines, is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), countries have jurisdiction over natural resources within 370 km from their coastlines. Nevertheless, China has drawn nine dashed lines claiming approximately 90% of the South China Sea as its territorial waters, including Scarborough Reef. The Permanent International Tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s claims had no basis in international law, but China continues to maintain its position, leading to ongoing tensions with neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
Tensions escalated on September 5th when a Chinese coast guard boat fired a water cannon at a Philippine military supply ship near Second Thomas Reef in the Spratly Islands.
Email: xing@yna.co.kr
The state newspaper responds to the Philippine territorial claims, saying, “Involving the United States will not help the national interest.”
Barriers were placed around Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea
[EPA=연합뉴스. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
(Beijing = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Seong-jo = When Philippine authorities removed a ‘floating barrier’ that China had placed around Scarborough Reef (Chinese name: Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, a territorial dispute area, the Ministry Chinese Foreign Affairs called it an ‘act of provocation’ defined it and opposed it.
According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 27th, Spokesman Wang Wenbin refuted the Philippine Coast Guard’s announcement in the previous day’s briefing that the obstruction had been “successfully removed,” saying, “The Philippines’ statement is completely alone.”
Spokesman Wang added, “China’s determination to protect Huangyandao’s sovereignty and maritime rights and maritime interests is unwavering,” adding, “We urge the Philippines not to provoke and cause trouble.”
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Previously, the Philippine Coast Guard discovered a floating barrier placed by China near Scarborough Reef during a maritime patrol on the 22nd.
Photos and videos posted by the Philippine Coast Guard on social media
Philippine authorities claimed that China’s measures were aimed at interfering with the fishing activities of Filipino fishermen.
In a briefing on the 25th, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “An official vessel from the Philippine Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources trespassed into the waters near Huangyan Island without China’s permission, and the Huangyan Island lagoon blocked the entrance to the inlet, separated from the sea, and they protested that they had taken legal action to drive Philippine ships out of their royal territory, saying, “I tried to ram into the lake that had formed.”
However, the Philippines promised to remove this obstacle, and the demolition work was completed on the afternoon of the 25th.
Barriers around Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea
[필리핀 해안경비대 제공. AFP 연합뉴스 자료사진. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
As news of the Philippines’ overthrow became known, Chinese state media claimed that the Philippines was dragging the United States into the South China Sea issue.
Citing analysts, Chinese English-language media Global Times said, “The situation around Huangyan Island is nothing more than another example of the Philippines’ recent provocations in the South China Sea,” adding, “The Philippines is eager to rely on The United States “The United States will never engage in a military conflict with China over the Philippines,” he asserted.
The media also presented the comments of Chinese naval expert Zhang Junshe, who said, “The Philippines should not misjudge the situation by looking at China’s restraint and tolerance as weakness,” and that “provocations will not help the Philippines’ national interests in any way . . .
The Scarborough Reef area is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), every country has jurisdiction over natural resources within an area 370 km from the coast. Scarborough Reef is located 240 km west of Luzon, the main island of the Islands the Philippines , and 900 km away from Hainan, China.
China has drawn nine lines (nine dashed lines) in the shape of a U in the South China Sea and has claimed about 90% of the area within them as its territorial waters. In 2012, it forcefully occupied Scarborough Reef, claiming sovereignty .
The Philippines filed a lawsuit with the Permanent International Tribunal (PTI), which ruled in 2016 that China’s territorial claims had no basis in international law.
However, China ignores this and continues to adhere to the same position, causing friction with neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
On the 5th of last month, tensions escalated when a Chinese coast guard boat fired a water cannon at a Philippine military supply ship near Second Thomas Reef in the Spratly Islands.
xing@yna.co.kr
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2023/09/27 13:08 Sent
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