The Philippines accused China of invading: what happened
Date: 2023-11-03 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WORLD
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs accused the People's Republic of China of invading its waters. This happened after an incident involving warships from both countries.
According to Reuters, China claims it was a Philippine warship that illegally entered the waters near Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine Foreign Ministry emphasized that this accusation has no legal basis, but is needed to increase tension.
“It is China that is invading Philippine waters,” the ministry said.
The Scarborough Shoal is known to be claimed by both countries, but has been effectively under Beijing's control since its seizure in Manila in 2012.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry notes that the shoal, which it calls "Bajo de Masinloc," is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and the country has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it.
“The Philippines has constantly demanded that Chinese ships immediately leave the area,” the department said indignantly.
The shoal, located 200 km off the coast of the Philippines, was already part of an arbitration claim filed by Manila in an international tribunal. Although the court ruled in 2016 that Beijing's claims to 90% of the South China Sea have no basis under international law, China refuses to recognize the decision.
