The China Coast Guard said it took control measures against two Philippine vessels which illegally intruded into waters near Xianbin Reef on Monday and approached Chinese ships in a dangerous manner.

In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the China Coast Guard said that the Philippines had dispatched two coast guard vessels into the waters adjacent to Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government.

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The two vessels "persistently approached" Chinese coast guard ships conducting normal patrols in a "dangerous manner" and hyped up the provocation, the statement said.

The China Coast Guard took control measures against the offending Philippine vessels in accordance with the law and regulations, it said.