Philippines vows to remove floating barrier placed by China's coast guard at a disputed lagoon

Philippines vows to remove Chinese barrier blocking access to disputed lagoon in South China Sea. Officials condemn "illegal and illegitimate" action, while China claims sovereignty over the area. U.S. Navy patrols challenge China's expansive claims and promote freedom of navigation.

Philippine officials vowed Monday to remove a floating barrier placed by China's coast guard to prevent Filipino fishing boats from entering a disputed lagoon in the South China Sea.

They said the 300 metre-long barrier at the entrance to the lagoon at Scarborough Shoal is “illegal and illegitimate.” Chinese coast guard vessels laid the barrier, held up by buoys, on Friday as a Philippine government fisheries vessel approached. More than 50 Philippine fishing boats were outside the shoal at the time, the Philippine coast guard said.

“We condemn the installation of floating barriers by the Chinese coast guard,” Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said. “The placement by the People's Republic of China of a barrier violates the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen.”

Mr. Ano said in a statement that the Philippines “will take all appropriate actions to cause the removal of the barriers and to protect the rights of our fishermen in the area.” He did not elaborate.

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In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the shoal and its adjacent waters are “China’s inherent territory,” where Beijing “has indisputable sovereignty.”

A Philippine government fisheries vessel “trespassed into the waters” without China's permission on September 22, Mr. Wang said, and “attempted to intrude into the lagoon” of the shoal. "China’s coast guard took the necessary measures to stop and warn off the ship in accordance with the law, which was professional and with restraint,” he added.