UPDATE – Philippines says barriers placed by China in disputed waters removed

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Philippines on Monday said it “successfully removed” what it called a “hazardous floating barrier” around Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Huangyan Island, in disputed South China Sea.

Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, said the guard executed a “special operation to remove the floating barrier that obstructed the Southeast entrance of Bajo De Masinloc” on the instructions of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law. It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in BDM (Bajo De Masinloc), which is an integral part of the Philippine national territory,” Tarriela said in a statement on X.

He also released videos and photo of the operation.

“The decisive action” by the guard, Tarriela said, “aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal.”

Earlier on Monday, Manila condemned the placing of floating barriers by China in the disputed waters.

Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano vowed to take “all appropriate actions to cause the removal of the barriers and to protect the rights of our fishermen in the area.”

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

Separately, the Philippine Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza said the disputed island is an “integral part of the Philippines, over which we have sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction” according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In Beijing, Wang said: “A Philippine vessel unlawfully entered the waters near Huangyan Island without China’s permission and attempted to ram into the Chinese Coast Guard” on Friday.

The Chinese Coast Guard took “necessary measures in accordance with the law to intercept and drive away the Philippine vessel, demonstrating professionalism and restraint in their actions,” said Wang.