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South China Sea: Philippines coast guard cuts barrier

The Philippines says it has removed a floating barrier installed by China to block Philippine fishing boats entering a contested area in the South China Sea.

Manila says China violated its fishing rights with the 300m (1,000ft) barrier in the Scarborough Shoal.

Footage released by the Philippines Coast Guard appears to show one of its personnel cutting an underwater rope attached to white buoys.

A spokesman said coast guard divers had posed as fishermen in a small boat to gain access to the area and taken away the anchor that secured the barrier.

China claims more than 90% of the South China Sea and seized the shoal in 2012.

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26 September 2023

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