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China’s actions in South China Sea seen as defying ruling

Staff hang up copies of maps dating from the Qing Dynasty purporting to back up China's claims to vast parts of the South China Sea, in Hong Kong Thursday, July. 14, 2016. An international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines this week saying that China had no basis for expanses claims in the sea. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Staff hang up copies of maps dating from the Qing Dynasty purporting to back up China's claims to vast parts of the South China Sea, in Hong Kong Thursday, July. 14, 2016. An international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines this week saying that China had no basis for expanses claims in the sea. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Staff hang up copies of maps dating from the Qing Dynasty purporting to back up China's claims to vast parts of the South China Sea, in Hong Kong Thursday, July. 14, 2016. An international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines this week saying that China had no basis for expanses claims in the sea. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

By Associated Press 3 min read

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) – Two Chinese aircraft landed on disputed reefs and Beijing’s coast guard reportedly blocked a Filipino fishing boat from a contested shoal, in acts of defiance after a landmark ruling found China’s vast claims in the South China Sea legally baseless.

Vietnam protested on Thursday that the recent Chinese actions seriously violated Vietnamese sovereignty.

Chinese state media reported that two Chinese civilian aircraft on Wednesday landed successfully on two newly built airstrips on Mischief and Subi reefs. China also said it had completed four lighthouses on disputed reefs and was launching a fifth.

In the Philippines, ABS-CBN TV network reported that Chinese coast guard ships had blocked a Filipino fishing boat from approaching the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Thursday.

ABS-CBN journalist Chiara Zambrano reported that Chinese personnel on two speedboats approached and encircled the Filipino boat carrying her and local fishermen.