BEIJING: China’s coast guard held a Nationwide Day flag-raising ceremony on a ship within the waters off the disputed Scarborough Shoal, vowing to “stand guard” over the atoll, a significant flashpoint for diplomatic flare-ups and maritime clashes with the Philippines.
Each international locations declare the triangular characteristic within the busy waterway of the South China Sea, however it’s successfully underneath Beijing’s management. In September, China infuriated Manila with a plan to arrange a “national” nature reserve there.
Coast Guard officers standing in formation on the rear deck of the patrol vessel Dahao (3304) saluted because the Chinese language flag was raised, a video confirmed in a Coast Guard posting on Wednesday (Oct 1) on Douyin, generally known as TikTok exterior China.
“We stand guard over these blue waters, assuring the nation of our unwavering dedication,” the video subtitles learn.
CCG vessel 3304 had been beforehand challenged by the Philippine Coast Guard for its “unlawful presence” on the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island whereas within the Philippines it is named the Panatag Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for touch upon Wednesday.
In 2012 China seized management of the shoal after a standoff with the Philippines and has since stored a deployment of coast guard and fishing trawlers there.
A landmark ruling on South China Sea points by the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration in 2016 went in favour of Manila however deciding sovereignty over the shoal was not throughout the scope of the choice.
The ruling held that Beijing’s blockade there violated worldwide legislation because it was a standard fishing floor for a number of international locations, together with the Philippines and Vietnam.
