Manila: The Philippines declared on Tuesday that China's deployment of its largest coast guard vessel within Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is "illegal." The statement was made by National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, who emphasized that the presence of the vessel violates the principles of freedom of navigation and innocent passage.

According to Anadolu Agency, Malaya's comments followed China's deployment of the massive coast guard ship on Saturday in waters near the Zambales province. Malaya described the move as provocative and an attempt to intimidate Filipino fishermen, potentially depriving them of their rightful livelihood. He urged China to withdraw the vessel from the Philippines' territorial waters, noting that Manila has filed a diplomatic protest and plans to use all available channels to address the situation.

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have been escalating in recent months over the South China Sea, a crucial region covering 3.5 million square kilometers through which approximately $11.3 billion in global trade is conducted annually, as reported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Last month, Manila accused Beijing of naval harassment and warned it might deploy a warship to the disputed area.

The ongoing dispute highlights the growing regional frictions over the strategic waterway, with China asserting claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with the territorial waters of several nations, including the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Manila has consistently criticized Beijing for its aggressive actions, including using its coast guard and maritime militia to intimidate Philippine vessels and fishermen. In response to Manila's statements, Beijing's Foreign Ministry asserted that China's sovereignty and related rights in the South China Sea have been established through a long historical process, supported by historical and legal evidence, and are in line with international law and practices.