The coast guard of China was accused by the Philippines on Sunday (September 24) of installing a "floating barrier" in the South China Sea's disputed area, stating that this has prevented the Filipinos from entering the area and fishing. 
 
The coast guard of Manila and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources "strongly condemned" the installation of the barrier by China in a part of the Scarborough Shoal, coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela posted on the X social media platform, which was formerly called Twitter. 
 
He said that the fishermen from the shoal are being blocked by the barrier and have been deprived of carrying out fishing and other livelihood activities.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-holds-rare-talks-with-syrias-assad-appeals-west-to-lift-sanctions-against-latter-638696">China's Xi holds rare talks with Syria's Assad, appeals West to lift sanctions against latter</a>

“The Philippine coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemn the China coast guard’s installation of a floating barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc, which prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities,” read the statement posted on X. 
 
The spokesperson also posted photos of the alleged floating barrier and stated that the floating barrier was installed by three Chinese coast guard boats and a Chinese maritime militia service after the Philippine government vessel arrived in the area.

<h2>Philippines shares footage of broken and bleached coral</h2>

Earlier this week, the Philippine coast guard shared footage in which vast patches of broken and bleached coral were seen after which China was accused by the officials of causing massive destruction in the area. 
 
“The continued swarming for the indiscriminate illegal and destructive fishing activities of the Chinese maritime militia in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal may have directly caused the degradation and destruction of the marine environment in the [West Philippine Sea] features,” said Tarriela in a statement, while he referred to the name of Manila for parts of the South China Sea that fall under their jurisdiction. 
 
“The presence of crushed corals strongly suggests a potential act of dumping, possibly involving the same dead corals that were previously processed and cleaned before being returned to the seabed,” Tarriela stated. 
 
Speaking at a routine briefing about the coral destruction on Thursday (September 21), the foreign ministry of China dismissed the allegations as “false and groundless.”

WATCH |&nbsp;China ramps up military drills around Taiwan

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-ramps-up-military-drills-around-taiwan-639006/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
“We advise the Philippine authorities not to utilize fabricated information to stage a political farce,” said spokesperson Mao Ning, while speaking to the reporters. 
 
As per the Filipino fishermen, Chinese vessels “usually install floating barriers whenever they monitor a large number of Filipino fishermen in the area,” the statement said. 
 
"The (Philippine Coast Guard) will continue to work closely with all concerned government agencies to address these challenges, uphold our maritime rights and protect our maritime domains," Tarriela stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The coast guard of China was accused by the Philippines on Sunday (September 24) of installing a "floating barrier" in the South China Sea's disputed area, stating that this has prevented the Filipinos from entering the area and fishing.

The coast guard of China was accused by the Philippines on Sunday (September 24) of installing a "floating barrier" in the South China Sea's disputed area, stating that this has prevented the Filipinos from entering the area and fishing. The coast guard of Manila and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources "strongly condemned" the installation of the barrier by China in a part of the Scarborough Shoal, coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela posted on the X social media platform, which was formerly called Twitter. He said that the fishermen from the shoal are being blocked by the barrier and have been deprived of carrying out fishing and other livelihood activities. ALSO READ | China's Xi holds rare talks with Syria's Assad, appeals West to lift sanctions against latter “The Philippine coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemn the China coast guard’s installation of a floating barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc, which prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities,” read the statement posted on X. The spokesperson also posted photos of the alleged floating barrier and stated that the floating barrier was installed by three Chinese coast guard boats and a Chinese maritime militia service after the Philippine government vessel arrived in the area. Philippines shares footage of broken and bleached coral Earlier this week, the Philippine coast guard shared footage in which vast patches of broken and bleached coral were seen after which China was accused by the officials of causing massive destruction in the area. “The continued swarming for the indiscriminate illegal and destructive fishing activities of the Chinese maritime militia in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal may have directly caused the degradation and destruction of the marine environment in the [West Philippine Sea] features,” said Tarriela in a statement, while he referred to the name of Manila for parts of the South China Sea that fall under their jurisdiction. “The presence of crushed corals strongly suggests a potential act of dumping, possibly involving the same dead corals that were previously processed and cleaned before being returned to the seabed,” Tarriela stated. Speaking at a routine briefing about the coral destruction on Thursday (September 21), the foreign ministry of China dismissed the allegations as “false and groundless.” WATCH | China ramps up military drills around Taiwan “We advise the Philippine authorities not to utilize fabricated information to stage a political farce,” said spokesperson Mao Ning, while speaking to the reporters. As per the Filipino fishermen, Chinese vessels “usually install floating barriers whenever they monitor a large number of Filipino fishermen in the area,” the statement said. "The (Philippine Coast Guard) will continue to work closely with all concerned government agencies to address these challenges, uphold our maritime rights and protect our maritime domains," Tarriela stated. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Philippines accuses China of installing 'floating barrier' in South China Sea

Thousands of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/why-some-eu-countries-are-struggling-to-relocate-migrants-265965">migrants facing the perilous journey</a> from Turkey to the Aegean islands on Europe’s periphery are now supposed to face another obstacle as the Greek government announced that it will build a floating barrier to deter them. The centre-right administration revealed the project to deny entry to undocumented migrants accessing the country.

Erected off the island of Lesbos, the bulwark of the 2.7km-long netted barrier will rise from pylons 50 metres above the water and will be equipped with flashing lights to demarcate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-die-as-storm-front-batters-greece-264668">Greece’s sea borders</a>. “In Evros, natural barriers had relative [good] results in containing flows,” stated Greece’s Defence Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, referring to the barbed-wire topped fence that Greece built along its northern land border with Turkey in 2012 to deter asylum seekers.

The plan was ridiculed the world over, and Amnesty International warned that it would enhance the dangers asylum-seekers and refugees encountered as they attempted to seek safety. “The plan raises serious issues about rescuers’ ability to continue providing life-saving assistance to people attempting the dangerous sea crossing to Lesbos. The government must urgently clarify the operational details and necessary safeguards to ensure that this <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/struggling-with-influx-greece-to-shut-down-three-refugee-camps-263414">system does not cost further lives</a>,” said Massimo Moratti, Research Director for Europe, Amnesty International.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twelve-dead-21-rescued-as-migrant-boat-sinks-off-greek-island-273697">Twelve dead, 21 rescued as migrant boat sinks off Greek island</a>

Calling this a "stupid idea" and adding that it was bound to be ineffective was Greece’s former migration minister, Dimitris Vitsas. “It’s not going to stop anybody making the journey,” he added. Human traffickers along Turkey’s western coast target Greece's outlying Aegean isles with renewed vigour, leading to a huge uptick in arrivals of refugees and migrants than any other part of Europe. Outposts designed to hold a maximum of 5,400 people are housing more than 44,000.

Greece fears a further surge in arrivals in the spring amid mounting tensions with Turkey over energy resources in the Mediterranean, despite numbers dropping radically since the EU struck a landmark accord with Ankara to curb the flows in March 2016.&nbsp;Blame for this humanitarian catastrophe has been thrown at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Prime Minister for exploiting the refugee drama as political leverage in dealings with Athens and the EU.

As Idlib, Syria's last opposition holdout falls, Greek officials fear that the number of arrivals will rise further. Recent attacks from regime forces are gradually becoming more and more frequent. It is hoped that the barrier is functional by April, with the Greek Defence Ministry asking private contractors to submit offers.

Officials have guaranteed that the project will be completed by the military and will cost approximately €500,000 and has reassured the masses that it will be done by “non-military specifications” to ensure international maritime standards. More parts will be added to the 15-kilometre fence if the initial pilot is deemed successful.

Thousands of migrants facing the perilous journey from Turkey to the Aegean islands on Europe’s periphery are now supposed to face another obstacle as the Greek government announced that it will build a floating barrier to deter them.

Thousands of migrants facing the perilous journey from Turkey to the Aegean islands on Europe’s periphery are now supposed to face another obstacle as the Greek government announced that it will build a floating barrier to deter them. The centre-right administration revealed the project to deny entry to undocumented migrants accessing the country. Erected off the island of Lesbos, the bulwark of the 2.7km-long netted barrier will rise from pylons 50 metres above the water and will be equipped with flashing lights to demarcate Greece’s sea borders. “In Evros, natural barriers had relative [good] results in containing flows,” stated Greece’s Defence Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, referring to the barbed-wire topped fence that Greece built along its northern land border with Turkey in 2012 to deter asylum seekers. The plan was ridiculed the world over, and Amnesty International warned that it would enhance the dangers asylum-seekers and refugees encountered as they attempted to seek safety. “The plan raises serious issues about rescuers’ ability to continue providing life-saving assistance to people attempting the dangerous sea crossing to Lesbos. The government must urgently clarify the operational details and necessary safeguards to ensure that this system does not cost further lives,” said Massimo Moratti, Research Director for Europe, Amnesty International. Also Read: Twelve dead, 21 rescued as migrant boat sinks off Greek island Calling this a "stupid idea" and adding that it was bound to be ineffective was Greece’s former migration minister, Dimitris Vitsas. “It’s not going to stop anybody making the journey,” he added. Human traffickers along Turkey’s western coast target Greece's outlying Aegean isles with renewed vigour, leading to a huge uptick in arrivals of refugees and migrants than any other part of Europe. Outposts designed to hold a maximum of 5,400 people are housing more than 44,000. Greece fears a further surge in arrivals in the spring amid mounting tensions with Turkey over energy resources in the Mediterranean, despite numbers dropping radically since the EU struck a landmark accord with Ankara to curb the flows in March 2016. Blame for this humanitarian catastrophe has been thrown at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Prime Minister for exploiting the refugee drama as political leverage in dealings with Athens and the EU. As Idlib, Syria's last opposition holdout falls, Greek officials fear that the number of arrivals will rise further. Recent attacks from regime forces are gradually becoming more and more frequent. It is hoped that the barrier is functional by April, with the Greek Defence Ministry asking private contractors to submit offers. Officials have guaranteed that the project will be completed by the military and will cost approximately €500,000 and has reassured the masses that it will be done by “non-military specifications” to ensure international maritime standards. More parts will be added to the 15-kilometre fence if the initial pilot is deemed successful.

Greek Defence Ministry plans to build sea barrier off Lesbos to deter migrants

floating-barriers

Floating Barriers, News on Floating Barriers, stories on Floating Barriers, articles on Floating Barriers, Floating Barriers stories at Wion, Floating Barriers news, Floating Barriers latest news