China rejects Philippine claims over Scarborough

Map showing the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (south China Sea), including the Spratlys Islands and Scarborough Shoal. AFP

BEIJING—China said the Philippines is violating maritime law by claiming a sea shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and has dismissed Manila’s request to take the dispute to an international court

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Wednesday that China has evidence to prove its ownership of the shoal where military vessels from the two countries have been facing off since last week.

The Philippines says the shoal is well within the country’s 230-mile (370-kilometer) exclusive economic zone that is recognized under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Liu said that claim is “completely baseless.”