The conflict in the South China Sea

Chinese military boat. Bullit Marquez / Ap 

The conflict in the South China Sea 

China is flexing its muscles 150 miles from the mainland - in seas it has no right to  

The Chinese navy's presence in parts of the South China Sea is getting stronger, writes the New York Times in a report. Despite the fact that an international tribunal has ruled that China has no legal right whatsoever to the waters around Mischief Reef, the newspaper's reporter team pings when they get to the area:  

"Welcome to China," says a text message.  

The growing Chinese fleet is considered to increase the likelihood that the South China Sea could become the scene of a naval battle between the world's great powers. Because even if the US does not claim the area, it has concluded agreements with several Asian countries, including the Philippines, which means that US soldiers can be sent if the situation requires it. 

South China Sea map 

Philippine Coast Guard. Aaron Favila / AP  

Philippines condemns China for floating barrier  

The Philippines is condemning China's coast guard for what it describes as a "floating barrier" in a disputed part of the South China Sea, Reuters reports. The island nation believes that the barrier prevents Filipino fishermen from fishing in the area. 

In a post on platform X, a spokesperson for the coast guard writes that it will "continue to work closely with all relevant ministries to [...] maintain our maritime rights and protect our maritime domains".  

The Chinese embassy in Manila has not commented on the matter.  

China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea. The areas in question overlap the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines