Manila accuses Beijing of violating its sovereignty as South China Sea dispute rages on

Philippines’ foreign ministry weighs in on controversy over presence of Chinese fleet near contested Thitu Island

Manila has ‘consistently manifested its … objections or concerns over illegal, tension-raising or coercive activities’, statement says

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The Philippines is angry about the presence of a Chinese fleet close to Thitu Island in the South China Sea. Photo: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initative/DigitalGlobe

Published: 9:00pm, 4 Apr 2019Updated: 12:18pm, 8 Apr 2019

The Philippines’ foreign ministry on Thursday accused Beijing of violating its sovereignty and jurisdiction by allowing hundreds of vessels to sail close to an island claimed by Manila in the South China Sea.

The statement came just three days after Philippine Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana described China’s growing presence in the disputed waters as “very concerning”, saying on a trip to Washington that it was encroaching on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The conflict relates to the presence of up to 200 Chinese vessels near Thitu Island, which Manila calls Pag-asa, in the disputed Spratly Islands.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said the Philippines “has consistently manifested its position on Pag-asa … and its objections or concerns over illegal, tension-raising or coercive activities, through diplomatic actions … and in meetings with the Chinese side”.

The statement said Thitu is part of the Kalayaan island group – the local name for the Spratlys – and an integral part of the Philippines, over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction.

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