Philippines Accuses China Coast Guard of Blocking Law Enforcement Operation Near Thitu Island

The Philippines has accused China Coast Guard vessels of obstructing a Philippine law enforcement operation near Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the incident occurred during an operation targeting a foreign fishing vessel suspected of engaging in dynamite fishing near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, about three nautical miles west of Thitu Island, also known as Pag-asa in the Philippines.

According to Philippine authorities, two China Coast Guard vessels sounded their horns, challenged the Philippine team by radio and later followed and blocked their boats.

The Philippines also said a People's Liberation Army Navy helicopter flew over the area and circled the Philippine personnel four times, describing the action as an unnecessary attempt at intimidation.

The Philippine Coast Guard said its personnel, together with the Philippine Navy and Philippine National Police Maritime Group, repeatedly ordered the suspected fishing vessel to stop. However, the vessel ignored the instructions and sailed southwest toward Subi Reef, a Chinese-controlled artificial island in the Spratly Islands.

The Philippine team eventually abandoned the pursuit for safety reasons and returned to Thitu Island.

Philippine authorities said the China Coast Guard had no law enforcement authority in the territorial waters around Thitu and accused its vessels of helping the suspected fishing vessel escape.

The latest incident comes amid growing maritime tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea.

Separately, the Philippine military reported that a Chinese J-16 fighter jet repeatedly approached and manoeuvred close to a Philippine patrol aircraft over Scarborough Shoal on Saturday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines described the incident as part of what it called a recurring pattern of unsafe and coercive behaviour toward Philippine vessels and aircraft conducting lawful operations.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the reported incidents.