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HomeSoutheast Asia‘A bold step’: US hails Philippines for removing Chinese barrier from shoal

‘A bold step’: US hails Philippines for removing Chinese barrier from shoal

AsiaSoutheast Asia

South China Sea: US says Philippines removing Chinese barrier from Scarborough Shoal ‘a bold step’

Senior defence official Asia Lindsey Ford commended Manila’s action and reaffirmed Washington’s security commitments to its allyPresident Marcos Jnr said the Philippines was upholding its rights to fish in its territory days after the coastguard dismantled the barrierThe PhilippinesReutersPublished: 9:08am, 29 Sep, 2023Why you can trust SCMP

The Philippines’ removal of a Chinese floating barrier near the Scarborough Shoal in a disputed part of the South China Sea was “a bold step in defending their own sovereignty,” a senior US defence official said on Thursday.Manila had expressed outrage over China’s placement of a long, ball-buoy barrier near the rocky outcrop, some 200km (124 miles) from the Philippines. It has seen years of intermittent flare-ups over sovereignty and fishing rights.The Philippines coastguard said on Monday it executed a “special operation” to remove the barrier, calling it a violation of international law and a hazard to navigation.

South China Sea: Philippines aims to ‘take control again’ of shoal from China

During a congressional hearing, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford commended the Philippines’ action and reaffirmed Washington’s security commitments to its Asian ally.

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