Philippines Stops South China Sea Survey After “Dangerous Harassment” By China
The Philippines has stopped a scientific survey in the South China Sea after Chinese Coast Guard and Navy vessels dangerously harassed its fisheries vessels.
On January 24, two Philippine Bureau of Fisheries vessels were heading to Sandy Cay, near Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, to collect sand samples for a marine scientific survey.
However, three Chinese coast guard vessels and four smaller boats approached the Filipino vessels and made aggressive manoeuvers, the Philippine Coast Guard stated.
A Chinese navy helicopter hovered at an unsafe altitude over the inflatable boats. In response, the survey was suspended due to the “continuous harassment and disregard for safety” by Chinese maritime forces.
The Filipino vessels were unable to collect sand samples from the sandbars near Thitu Island, about 430 kilometres fro…
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