Philippines suspends South China Sea survey after China's 'harassment'

MANILA, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The Philippines said on Saturday it has suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after two of its fisheries vessels faced "harassment" and aggressive behaviour from China's coast guard and navy.

Manila and Beijing have had a series of escalating confrontations in disputed waters of the South China Sea. China claims almost all the strategic waterway - through which $3 trillion in commerce moves annually - overlapping sovereignty claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Two Philippine fisheries vessels, on their way on Friday to collect sand samples from Sandy Cay near Philippine-occupied Thitu island, encountered "aggressive manoeuvres" from three China Coast Guard ships, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on Saturday.

In its own statement, China Coast Guard said China ...
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