Philippines accuses China of building 'floating barrier' at South China Sea shoal

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela wrote on social network X, formerly Twitter, today that the force and the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources "strongly condemn" China's installation of barriers at part of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, according to Reuters.

Mr. Tarriela also wrote that the barrier prevented Filipino fishermen from accessing Scarborough Shoal, “depriving them of their fishing activities and livelihood.”

A Chinese coast guard vessel is seen from a Philippine fishing boat at Scarborough Shoal on April 6, 2017.

According to Mr. Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources discovered the floating barrier, estimated to be 300 meters long, during a routine patrol near Scarborough Shoal on September 22.

Mr. Tarriela also wrote that three Chinese coast guard inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia vessel installed the barrier when the Philippine ship arrived in the area.

According to Mr. Tarriela, those Chinese boats sent 15 radio messages, accusing the Philippine ship and fishermen of violating international law and Chinese law, before leaving "when they saw the presence of media personnel on board (the Philippines)".

There is no immediate response from the Chinese Embassy in Manila to the new accusations from the Philippine Coast Guard.

China seized control of the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea from the Philippines after a tense standoff between ships from both sides in 2012.

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