China says Philippine ships entered its territorial waters around disputed shoal in South China Sea

BEIJING – China’s Coast Guard said on Tuesday that four Philippine ships had attempted to enter China’s territorial waters around a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

Liu Dejun, a coast guard spokesperson, said in a statement the Philippine ships had “dangerously approached” China Coast Guard “normal law enforcement patrol vessels” around the Scarborough Shoal. Liu added that China had “exercised control” over the Philippine ships. — Reuters