China Accuses Philippine Ships of ‘Illegally Gathering’ at Disputed Reef

File image of China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun. Image via the China Coast Guard.

China on Monday said it had taken “control measures” against Philippine ships it accused of “illegally gathering” near a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

“Recently, several Philippine ships… illegally gathered under the pretense of fishing in the waters near Houteng Reef of China’s Nansha Islands,” China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said in a statement, using the Chinese names for the Iroquois Reef and the Spratly Islands.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.