China says Philippine ships entered its territorial waters around disputed shoal in South China Sea

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Coast Guard said on Tuesday that four Philippine ships had attempted to enter China’s territorial waters around a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

Liu Dejun, a coast guard spokesperson, said in a statement the Philippine ships had “dangerously approached” China Coast Guard “normal law enforcement patrol vessels” around the Scarborough Shoal. Liu added that China had “exercised control” over the Philippine ships.

(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Sandra Maler)