China military accuses the Philippines of trespassing into waters near Scarborough Shoal

China has accused the Philippines of trespassing into the waters adjacent to Scarborough Shoal which they referred to as Huangyan Dao "without the approval of the Chinese government."

In a statement on Monday, Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, the spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said a Philippine frigate "trespassed" into their territory.

According to Tian, the naval and air forces of the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command "tracked, monitored, warned, and restricted the Philippine military vessel according to the law."

China said the Philippines' action has "seriously violated China's sovereignty international law and basic norms governing international relations, and is highly likely to cause misunderstanding and miscalculation."

"We urge the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringement and provocation to avoid further escalation," he said.

"The troops assigned to the PLA Southern Theater Command remain on high alert at all times to resolutely defend China's national sovereignty and security and peace and stability in the South China Sea," he added.

Located 120 nautical miles from Zambales, the Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, is considered a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.

China claims the vast South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

The 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, however, invalidated Beijing's historic nine-dash line claim in the area which is also a shipping passage for $5.3 trillion worth of trade annually.

Seven years after the Tribunal favored the Philippines' arbitral case against China, the ruling remains on paper as China continues to disregard it by keeping its military activities in the West Philippine Sea.