Philippines protests China actions vs. fishermen, aircraft

Philippine government filed a diplomatic protest after Chinese forces seized fishing equipment set up by Filipis in a disputed shoal in ir latest territorial spat in South China Sea.

Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement Thursday night that Philippines “also resolutely objected" to China continuing to issue rio challenges to Philippine aircraft patrolling over disputed waters.

re was immediate comment from Chinese officials.

Philippine government has protested China’s increasingly aggressive actions in contested sea despite a dramatic improvement in relations under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has nurtured friendly ties with Beijing while often criticizing United States, which has raised alarm over his dely anti-drugs crackdown.

Philippine foreign affairs department did t immediately provide or details on what it said was Chinese coast guard’s illegal confiscation of fishing equipment. devices, locally called “payaos,” were seized in May after y h been set up by Filipi fishermen in disputed Scarborough Shoal off rthwestern Philippine province of Zambales.

China seized shoal after a tense sea standoff in 2012, and Philippines brought its disputes to international arbitration following year. tribunal in 2016 invalidated China’s claims to virtually entire South China Sea but Beijing continues to igre and defy decision.

Rio warnings by Chinese forces against Philippine air force patrol aircraft have increased around missile-protected Chinese artificial islands, Philippine officials said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused China of taking vant of intense preoccupation of governments over pandemic to vance its territorial claims.

Last month, U.S. government rejected nearly all of Beijing’s South China Sea claims and in effect sided with Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei in each of ir territorial spats with Beijing. China responded by saying U.S. was trying to sow discord and was meddling in an Asian dispute to flex its muscle and incite a confrontation.