Chinese ships block Philippine coast guard in latest South China Sea standoff

Two Philippine boats breached a Chinese coast guard blockade in a dangerous confrontation in the disputed South China Sea

Transcript

00:00 These pictures, recorded from a Philippine coastguard, show the latest sovereignty standoff

00:07 between Beijing and Manila in the disputed South China Sea.

00:11 Chinese coastguard vessels blocked the passage to Philippine coastguard vessels for hours

00:16 on Tuesday near the Second Thomas Shoal, an area claimed by the Philippines where they

00:21 maintain a military ship and had sent supplies.

00:25 China asserting its claim over the region allowed the passage of two vessels carrying

00:30 supplies, citing humanitarian reasons.

00:33 Beijing is embroiled in numerous sovereignty disputes in these waters.

00:39 Despite setbacks in international courts, it's pursuing an increasingly assertive policy,

00:45 causing concern among other regional nations and the United States, which closely monitors

00:50 China's activities in waters through which one-third of the world's maritime traffic

00:55 flows.

00:56 [WIND BLOWING]