Philippines Suspends South China Sea Survey After China’s ‘Harassment’

MANILA, Jan 25 (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Saturday it has suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after two of its fisheries vessels faced “harassment” and aggressive behavior from China’s coast guard and navy. 

Manila and Beijing have had a series of escalating confrontations in disputed waters of the South China Sea. China claims almost all the strategic waterway – through which $3 trillion in commerce moves annually – overlapping sovereignty claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Two Philippine fisheries vessels, on their way on Friday to collect sand samples from Sandy Cay near Philippine-occupied Thitu island, encountered “aggressive maneuvers” from three China Coast G…