South China Sea: Philippine navy chides Beijing for ‘coercive’ manoeuvre over Scarborough Shoal
- Manila also said a provisional agreement with China on resupply missions for troops at the Second Thomas Shoal would be reviewed
The Philippines has been incensed by what it saw as a dangerous manoeuvre by two Chinese aircraft, which it said dropped flares in the path of its military aircraft while conducting a routine patrol over the contested shoal on Thursday.
The actions had no place in the international arena, which is governed by international law, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told a briefing, adding China’s conduct raised the risk of untoward incidents.
China, which also claims sovereignty over the shoal, has disputed that saying it acted in a professional and legal manner.
The Scarborough Shoal, a prime fishing patch with a lagoon that provides shelter for vessels during storms, is one of Asia’s most contested sites, located inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but occupied by China for more than a decade.
The incident is the latest flare-up between the Philippines and China after more than a year of heated rows over disputed areas of the South China Sea, as US ally Manila infuriates Beijing by stepping up its efforts to assert itself.
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