Manila condemns Chinese frigate's 'provocative' act

The Philippines yesterday criticised a “high-risk” manoeuvre by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies.

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The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.

Monday's encounter occurred “approximately 11.8 nautical miles southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has slammed as destabilising.