SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China mentioned on Saturday a small civilian vessel from the Philippines had “illegally positioned itself on the seashore” of an atoll within the South China Sea that each nations declare.
The vessel, which landed on the Spratly Islands atoll on Friday, was there for provide functions, the China Coast Guard posted on the Weixin platform.
The Philippines’ coast guard, nationwide safety council, and overseas ministry didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Saturday.
The Philippines has stationed a small variety of troops on World Conflict Two ship it grounded in 1999 as an outpost to bolster its sovereignty declare over the Second Thomas Shoal, referred to as Ayungin within the Philippines and the Renai Reef in China.
Manila refused Beijing’s requests final 12 months to tow the vessel away within the row that has soured relations between the 2 Asian nations.
China asserts sovereignty over nearly your complete South China Sea, together with areas claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The Everlasting Courtroom of Arbitration in 2016 China’s claims had no authorized foundation.
(Reporting by Engen Tham; Extra Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; Enhancing by William Mallard)
