Beijing again accuses Philippine ships of 'illegally entering' waters near Scarborough

This photo released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows a Philippine supply ship sailing between a coast guard vessel and a Chinese militia vessel off Scarborough Shoal. (Source: Hindustant Times/AP)

Spokesperson for the Chinese Southern Theater Command, Colonel Tian Junli, on October 30 accused a Philippine ship of "illegally entering" waters near Scarborough Shoal without Beijing's permission, and urged Manila to immediately stop similar actions.

“We urge the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringement and provocations, and earnestly avoid further escalation... The Philippine side's actions have seriously violated China's sovereignty , as well as international law and basic norms governing international relations, and are prone to misunderstanding and miscalculation,” Mr. Tian Junli emphasized.

Mr. Dien Quan Ly also said that China had monitored, supervised, warned and stopped the ship in accordance with the law.

China and the Philippines have had several confrontations in disputed waters near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, with both sides recently accusing each other of collisions between Chinese coast guard vessels and Philippine vessels.