Philippines deploys aircraft and vessels to expel Chinese research ships

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The Philippines, on Sunday (3/5), announced that they have deployed aircraft and ships to expel Chinese research ships conducting “illegal marine scientific research.” The decision was taken after the Philippine Coast Guard detected four Chinese research ships operating in the vicinity of Philippine waters, according to the local English-language daily, Philstar. “We will not tolerate any illegal marine scientific research conducted without our government’s approval,” said Philippine Coast Guard Commander Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan. “We are deploying aircraft and ships to challenge and expel these unlicensed vessels to protect the Philippines’ sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he added. China’s state news agency, Xinhua, also reported on Sunday (3/5) that “five Philippine ship crew members illegally landed on Tiexian Jiao in China’s Nansha Qundao, ignoring repeated warnings and prevention efforts from the Chinese side,” citing sources. Beijing refers to the Spratly Islands, claimed by the Philippines in the South China Sea, as Nansha Qundao. Chinese Coast Guard law enforcement officers “identified the intruders and handled the incident in accordance with the law, effectively protecting China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” the statement added.