China drives away PH ships from Spratlys

Chinese ships drove away two Philippine vessels at the Spratly islands chain Monday as Beijing accused Manila of building structures at the disputed Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea (West Philippines Sea). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said coast guard vessels patrolling the reefs spotted two ships, loaded with construction materials and carrying the flags of the Philippines. China calls it Nansha Islands. Philippine defense officials refused to comment on the report. The Philippines has a stranded warship at the shoal, which serves as a detachment for its military. China has been demanding the Philippines to retrieve the warship. China claims practically all of the South China Sea, disregarding an agreement that countries are entitled to a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

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