Philippines Removes Chinese Barrier at Disputed Shoal in 'Special Operation'

MANILA, Sept 25 - The Philippines said on Monday it executed a "Special operation" to remove a floating barrier installed by China at a prime fishing patch in the South China Sea, a move that could stoke tension after a years-long detente in Asia's most disputed waters. The Philippines expressed outrage on Sunday and shared images of Chinese coastguard policing a long, ball-buoy barrier near the Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop 200 km from the Philippines and the site of years of intermittent flare-ups over sovereignty and fishing rights. Hours after the national security adviser had vowed to take action, the Philippine coastguard said it had removed the floating cordon, at the behest of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his special task force on the South China Sea. "The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law. It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk," it said in a statement, describing the shoal as "An integral part of the Philippine national territory." China's foreign ministry made no direct mention of the floating barrier but earlier on Monday defended the actions of its coastguard as "Necessary measures" after a Philippine bureau of fisheries vessel "Intruded" into its waters on Friday. Control of the shoal is a sensitive issue for China as it formed part of a legal case filed by the Philippines at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, which in 2016 ruled that Beijing's claim to 90% of the South China Sea had no basis under international law. Though the tribunal did not rule on sovereignty over the shoal, located within the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone, it said the area was a traditional fishing site for several countries and that China's previous blockades were unlawful.