South China Sea

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Senior official calls on China to stop ‘creating unnecessary tensions’ and respect the law.
Published On 31 Oct 2023

Beijing blames Washington for the incident that almost caused an accident as the two compete for influence in region.

Beijing’s claim is embodied by its nine-dash line that an international court rejected more than seven years ago.

Beijing and Manila officials talk of ‘intentional’ and deliberately ‘provocative’ manoeuvres in collision incidents.

Manila lodges diplomatic protest over near collisions in the South China Sea, its 55th this year.

Incidents are the latest in a series of run-ins between Manila and Beijing in the disputed waterway.

As China prepares for possible conflict with Taiwan, the US, some see such a confrontation as unnecessary, unwinnable.

Detailing more than 180 Chinese intercepts in past two years, Pentagon warns of dangers of such incidents.

The latest incident took place near Thitu Island, which was occupied by the Philippines in the 1970s.

Philippine Coast Guard said three Filipino fishermen died when their boat was hit and sank in disputed sea.

Comments come after coastguard dismantled a Chinese buoy barrier set up on a disputed shoal that raised tensions.

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