China on Tuesday repeated its call for the Philippines to tow away a grounded warship — a rusted-out World War II relic used as a base — from a disputed shoal, after Manila told Beijing it would not abandon the area.
How
In the latest spat on August 5, Chinese and Philippine vessels had another tense encounter in the disputed sea, with Manila accusing Beijing of using water cannons and blocking a resupply mission to soldiers manning the
stranded ship.
China said its actions were justified as the Philippines was supposedly bringing construction materials to the vessel.
The ship
BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned naval vessel and is a “permanent” government installation within its territory.
Manila’s stand
The Philippines has said the vessel was placed in Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 in response to China’s occupation of nearby Mischief Reef in 1995.
It was installed three years before a South China Sea non-binding code of conduct was signed between Beijing and the ASEAN members in 2002.
Beijing’s stand
China, however, has repeatedly urged the Philippines to tow away the military vessel that it claimed was “illegally” and “deliberately” ran aground at the shoal. Beijing also considers the shoal, which it calls Ren’ai Jiao, as part of its territory.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the waters of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines.
How
In the latest spat on August 5, Chinese and Philippine vessels had another tense encounter in the disputed sea, with Manila accusing Beijing of using water cannons and blocking a resupply mission to soldiers manning the
stranded ship.
China said its actions were justified as the Philippines was supposedly bringing construction materials to the vessel.
The ship
BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned naval vessel and is a “permanent” government installation within its territory.
Manila’s stand
The Philippines has said the vessel was placed in Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 in response to China’s occupation of nearby Mischief Reef in 1995.
It was installed three years before a South China Sea non-binding code of conduct was signed between Beijing and the ASEAN members in 2002.
Beijing’s stand
China, however, has repeatedly urged the Philippines to tow away the military vessel that it claimed was “illegally” and “deliberately” ran aground at the shoal. Beijing also considers the shoal, which it calls Ren’ai Jiao, as part of its territory.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the waters of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines.