The Philippines denounces China's South China Sea floating barrier

On Sunday, the Philippines criticized the Chinese coast guard for building a “floating barrier” in a disputed South China Sea area that stopped Filipino boats from fishing.

Philippine coast guard spokeswoman Jay Tarriela said the floating barrier was found by Philippine warships during a routine marine patrol on Friday and measured 300 meters (984 ft).

The statement said the Philippine coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemn the China coast guard's installation of a floating barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc, which prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and denying them fishing and livelihood activities.

The Philippines' National Security Council (NSC) stated Monday it will take “all appropriate actions to cause the removal of the barriers and to protect the rights of our fishermen in the area.”

Beijing claimed Monday that it has “indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters,” the Chinese name for the disputed shoal, and accused the Filipino vessel of “intruding” without authorization.

The Scarborough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, is a small but significant reef and fertile fishing area 130 miles (200 kilometers) west of Luzon, Philippines.

The shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island, is one of many contested islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

In 2016, the Hague tribunal decided in favor of the Philippines in a landmark maritime dispute, ruling that China has no legal right to the majority of the South China Sea.