Chinese Coast Guard said to have taken action against Philippine vessels. The Philippines accuses China of another blockade.
Both sides claim sovereignty in the maritime area. The conflict involves the crew of a former warship that intentionally ran aground on a reef in the Spratly Islands in 1999 to protect Manila's maritime claims. Since then, Filipino soldiers have been living on board, receiving supplies from the motherland - which is often hindered by Chinese ships. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague declared in 2016 that China's claims had no legal basis.