Chinese Coast Guard Monitors Philippine Patrol Vessel In Sengketa Beting Sabina Waters

China's coast guard said it was monitoring Philippine patrols and fishing vessels gathering around disputed Sabina's Beting.

China's coast guard has been monitoring the ships since Saturday last weekend, a spokesman for Gan Yu said.

Gan said patrol boats from the Fisheries and Waters Bureau of the Philippines (BFAR) and several fishing vessels gathered in waters near Philippine vessels that China said were 'disbanded illegally' in these shallow waters and violated the sovereignty of China's territory and maritime rights and interests in the region.

China calls Sabana Shoal Xianbin Reef, while the Philippines calls it Escoda Shoal. This is an atoll located 150 km (93 miles) from the island of Palawan in the western Philippines.

PCG accuses China of building artificial islands in these shallow waters. China says the allegations are baseless.

Beijing and Manila have been involved for one year in fierce disputes over competing claims in the South China Sea, a $3 trillion trading place occurring annually.

Manila reached a temporary agreement with China for a supply mission in the South China Sea last month in an effort to ease tensions and address dissent. Details of the deal have not been published.

China claims most of these important waterways, including some claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that in 2016 Beijing's claims had no basis under international law.