The Philippines has accused China of removing remnants of a structure it had built illegally on a disputed reef in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Chinese ships had been spotted removing the remnants of a structure on Sabina Shoal, a reef about 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Palawan Island.
The statement said that the Philippines had “strongly protested” the Chinese action, calling it a “clear violation” of international law.
The Philippines and China have been locked in a dispute over the South China Sea for decades. China claims sovereignty over most of the sea, despite competing claims from several other countries, including the Philippines.
In recent years, China has built artificial islands and military facilities on reefs in the South China Sea. The Philippines has accused China of violating its maritime territory and sovereignty.
The removal of the remnants of the structure on Sabina Shoal is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised tensions between the Philippines and China.
In May, a Chinese coast guard ship blocked a Philippine resupply ship from approaching Ayungin Shoal, another disputed reef in the South China Sea.
The incident drew a strong protest from the Philippines, and the United States also expressed concern.
The removal of the remnants of the structure on Sabina Shoal is likely to further increase tensions between the Philippines and China. It is also likely to raise concerns among other countries that have claims in the South China Sea.
The incident highlights the importance of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and it is vital that all countries have the right to navigate freely in the area.
The press has written extensively about China’s provocations against the Philippines in the past. Some notable examples include:
- In 2012, a Chinese warship rammed and sank a Philippine fishing boat near Scarborough Shoal. The incident sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
- In 2014, China began construction of artificial islands on reefs in the South China Sea, including some that are claimed by the Philippines. The construction of the islands has been widely condemned as a violation of international law.
- In 2016, a Chinese coast guard ship blocked a Philippine resupply boat from approaching Ayungin Shoal. The incident drew a strong protest from the Philippines and the United States.
- In 2019, China deployed a large number of fishing boats to Whitsun Reef, a reef that is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The deployment of the fishing boats was widely seen as an act of intimidation by China.
These are just a few examples of China’s provocations against the Philippines in the past. The press has played an important role in documenting and reporting on these incidents, and in raising awareness of the issue.
In addition to the examples above, the press has also written about China’s use of cyberattacks against the Philippines, its interference in Philippine elections, and its economic coercion of the Philippines.
The press’s coverage of China’s provocations against the Philippines has been essential in holding China accountable for its actions and in deterring it from further aggression.