China says it removed floating barriers in disputed waters, contradicting Philippines

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Beijing asserted Thursday that it took a voluntary step late Wednesday to dismantle a floating barrier in the disputed South China Sea to restore "regular control.”

It is a claim that contradicts the Philippines which had claimed it removed the barriers around the contested Scarborough Shoal.

“The Philippine official vessel of its Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources illegally entered China’s territorial waters on September 22 near Huangyan Island without China’s permission and engaged in provocations,” China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu said in a statement.

"Temporary blocking nets were deployed as the response to the illegal intrusion of the lagoon by the Philippine’s official vessel. Subsequently, on September 23, the blocking devices were voluntarily removed, and normal control was restored," he added.

Manila had claimed it “successfully removed” a “hazardous floating barrier” around Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Huangyan Island, in the disputed South China Sea.

But Beijing claims that Huangyan Island, also known as Scarborough Shoal, is an “inherent part of China’s territory, and China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its surrounding waters.”