Chinese state media: Phl ships expelled from Ayungin Shoal

MANILA, Philippines - China confirmed that its coast guard vessels had driven away two Philippine ships from the disputed Ayungin Shoal, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.

According to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said coast guard vessels patrolling the disputed area identified "two ships loaded with construction materials and carrying the flags of the Philippines."

The Philippine ships were reportedly approaching the shoal, known as the Ren'ai Reef to China, last Sunday.

Qin said the ships left the reef on Sunday afternoon after being warned by the Chinese vessels, the report added.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters including the Ren'ai Reef," Qin was quoted as saying in the Xinhua report.

Qin further claimed that the Philippines had attempted to start construction on the disputed reef.

"The moves infringed China's sovereignty and violated the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea," he said.

The latest incident came weeks after the Philippines lodged a formal protest against China for reportedly using water cannons to drive away Filipino fishermen from the Panatag shoal, another disputed area.

The Philippines and China remain locked in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea, with the Asian giant pressing its indisputable sovereignty over the entire contested waters through its sweeping nine-dash-line claim.