
The Philippines says it has suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after its fisheries vessels faced “dangerous harassment” and aggressive behaviour from China’s coastguard and navy.
The Philippine Coast Guard said on Saturday that three Chinese coastguard vessels and four smaller boats made “aggressive manoeuvres” towards two Philippine Bureau of Fisheries inflatable boats that were on their way to collect sand samples from Sandy Cay near the Philippine-occupied Thitu island on Friday.