China accuses Philippine ship of trespassing near Scarborough Shoal

A Philippine military ship “illegally entered” waters close to Scarborough Shoal without permission, according to a statement from China’s military on Monday. The military also urged the Philippines to immediately cease its provocations. With this statement, the Chinese military has issued an unusual warning to the Philippines regarding its actions in South China Sea territorial waters. The majority of the military’s warnings were aimed at US warships in the area. China and the Philippines have engaged in a number of confrontations in the South China Sea, most recently exchanging accusations regarding the collision of a Philippine boat with a Chinese coastguard vessel. “We are urging the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringement and provocations, and earnestly avoid further escalation,” said senior colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command. Taiwan, China, and the Philippines all claim the Scarborough Shoal. “The Philippine side’s actions have seriously violated China’s sovereignty and international law and basic norms governing international relations, and are prone to misunderstanding and miscalculation,” Tian stated. According to him, China obeyed the law and followed, observed, alerted, and blocked the ship. Nearly the whole South China Sea is claimed by China, including a portion of the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Territorial disputes and marine friction have increased as a result. (With agency inputs)