Chinese coast guard ships and a Chinese navy helicopter harassed a group of Philippine fisheries vessels conducting a scientific survey in a hotly disputed area of the South China Sea, forcing them to cancel the operation,

Two Philippine ships had to call off their scientific probe after Chinese vessels and a helicopter intercepted them near the Spratly archipelago, according to the Philippines' coast guard.

The Philippine coast guard reported that China's coast guard and navy conducted aggressive maneuvers against Manila's fisheries vessels. The harassment from three Chinese Coast Guard ships and a navy helicopter forced Philippine vessels to halt a scientific survey in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard has entered its third week of actively challenging its Chinese counterparts, including a 12,000-ton “monster” China Coast Guard cutter within the country’s exclusive economic zone off Western Luzon.

A new Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel has replaced BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) to resume patrol operations against China’s illegal presence off the

A civilian vessel from the Philippines delivered supplies to its warship at Second Thomas Shoal with China's permission, according to China's coast guard. The Philippine embassy in Beijing has not yet commented on China's statement.

China's coast guard said on Saturday that they had warned and expelled Philippine vessels for trespassing in the waters near the Tiexian Reef of China's Nansha Islands.

The Philippine coast guard says Chinese coast guard ships and a Chinese navy helicopter harassed a group of Philippine fisheries vessels conducting a scientific survey in a hotly disputed area of the South China Sea,

The Philippines said on Saturday it had suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after its fisheries vessels faced "harassment" and aggressive behaviour from China's coast guard and navy.