Philippines, China accuse each other of intruding into their territorial waters in South China Sea

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The Philippines and China on Saturday accused each other of intruding into their respective territorial waters in the South China Sea.

In a statement, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea accused Beijing of taking aggressive action against civilian Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels during a regular humanitarian and support mission of providing oil subsidies and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels near Bajo De Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.

"The National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS) vehemently condemns the illegal and aggressive actions carried out by the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia," it said.

Manila claimed that Chinese Coast Guard ships used water cannons to obstruct and prevent BFAR vessels from approaching Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the oil subsidy and grocery packs.

However, Beijing in its counterclaim said the Chinese Coast Guard implemented lawful control measures on three BFAS vessels of the Philippines that intruded into the adjacent waters of China's Huangyan Island, China’s Global Times reported.

Beijing claims 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.”

In September this year, China warned the Philippines to avoid "provoking troubles" after Manila removed floating barriers from the disputed South China Sea.

Beijing issued a warning after Manila declared that it had "successfully removed" a "hazardous floating barrier" surrounding Bajo de Masinloc, or Huangyan Island as China refers to it, in the South China Sea.

Beijing recently accused the US of inciting the Philippines against China over the lingering South China Sea dispute, warning that Washington's "interference will only make things worse."

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid