China says PH ships 'illegally' in its reef
BEIJING — China on Monday said it had taken "control measures" against Philippine ships it accused of "illegally gathering" near a disputed reef in the South China Sea. "Recently, several Philippine ships... illegally gathered under the pretense of fishing in the waters near Houteng Reef of China's Nansha Islands," China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said in a statement, using the Chinese names for the Iroquois Reef and Spratly Islands. "The Chinese Coast Guard took necessary control measures against the Philippine ships in accordance with the law," Liu said. "We warn the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringements and provocations." Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a Chinese navy helicopter with tail number 65 had "harassed" Philippine fishing vessels in Iroquois Reef. The coast guard shared video footage taken by a Filipino fisherman on Nov. 27, purportedly showing a helicopter hovering over a Philippine fishing boat. "As far as the coast guard is concerned, this is the first time we saw a PLA Navy helicopter harassing Filipino fishermen with such low altitude, 15 to 18 feet," PCG spokesman on the South China Sea Commo. Jay Tarriela told reporters. Tarriela said China's "harassment" prompted the PCG to deploy a 97-meter and a 44-meter vessel in the area "to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen exercising their right to fish freely in Rozul (Iroquois) Reef." China claims almost all of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding its claims have no legal basis. Beijing has deployed navy, coast guard and so-called maritime militia forces — allegedly Chinese fishing vessels — in a bid to bar the Philippines from strategically important reefs and islands in the South China Sea. Vessels from the two sides have clashed frequently in the past year, resulting in injuries and damages. Tensions escalated in November when Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws defining the country's sea waters and imposing fixed lanes for foreign ships. That sparked a sharp riposte by China, which summoned Manila's envoy "to lodge solemn representations" over their passage. Tensions rose again when the United States and the Philippines signed a security agreement that allows the two sides to share classified information. On Monday, the Chinese Communist Party-owned newspaper Global Times said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, submitted Chinese government's statement on the baselines of territorial waters of Huangyan Dao and related nautical charts to the UN on Monday local time. The Chinese government said it delineated and published the baselines of territorial waters of Huangyan Dao in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws, as well as the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone. According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states are required to deposit a copy of their territorial sea baseline charts or geographical coordinate lists with the secretary-general of the UN. This submission is not only an international practice for China as a contracting party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, but also a legitimate action to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China said.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
BEIJING — China on Monday said it had taken "control measures" against Philippine ships it accused of "illegally gathering" near a disputed reef in the South China Sea.
"Recently, several Philippine ships... illegally gathered under the pretense of fishing in the waters near Houteng Reef of China's Nansha Islands," China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said in a statement, using the Chinese names for the Iroquois Reef and Spratly Islands.
"The Chinese Coast Guard took necessary control measures against the Philippine ships in accordance with the law," Liu said.
"We warn the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringements and provocations."
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a Chinese navy helicopter with tail number 65 had "harassed" Philippine fishing vessels in Iroquois Reef.
The coast guard shared video footage taken by a Filipino fisherman on Nov. 27, purportedly showing a helicopter hovering over a Philippine fishing boat.
"As far as the coast guard is concerned, this is the first time we saw a PLA Navy helicopter harassing Filipino fishermen with such low altitude, 15 to 18 feet," PCG spokesman on the South China Sea Commo. Jay Tarriela told reporters.
Tarriela said China's "harassment" prompted the PCG to deploy a 97-meter and a 44-meter vessel in the area "to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen exercising their right to fish freely in Rozul (Iroquois) Reef."
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding its claims have no legal basis.
Beijing has deployed navy, coast guard and so-called maritime militia forces — allegedly Chinese fishing vessels — in a bid to bar the Philippines from strategically important reefs and islands in the South China Sea.
Vessels from the two sides have clashed frequently in the past year, resulting in injuries and damages.
Tensions escalated in November when Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two laws defining the country's sea waters and imposing fixed lanes for foreign ships.
That sparked a sharp riposte by China, which summoned Manila's envoy "to lodge solemn representations" over their passage.
Tensions rose again when the United States and the Philippines signed a security agreement that allows the two sides to share classified information.
On Monday, the Chinese Communist Party-owned newspaper Global Times said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, submitted Chinese government's statement on the baselines of territorial waters of Huangyan Dao and related nautical charts to the UN on Monday local time.
The Chinese government said it delineated and published the baselines of territorial waters of Huangyan Dao in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws, as well as the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone.
According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states are required to deposit a copy of their territorial sea baseline charts or geographical coordinate lists with the secretary-general of the UN. This submission is not only an international practice for China as a contracting party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, but also a legitimate action to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China said.
