MANILA [Philippines]: Philippine activists have started traveling to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, prompting China to issue a fresh warning to Manila on allowing civilian missions in the West Philippine Sea, an area Manila Uses water in the South China Sea. It falls within its 200-nautica mile EEZ, Voice of America reported A floating fleet consisting of hundreds of fishing boats left the Philippines for Scarborough Shoal, a disputed atoll that was declared a Philippines' exclusive economic zone in 2012. Despite being inside, it was confiscated by China. Philippine Coast Guard ships departed to drop territorial buoys along the convoy route and provide provisions to Filipino fishermen operating near the coast. The visit follows a recent incident where a Philippine coast guard ship was targeted by water cannons from Chinese coast guard ships near Scarborough. The shoal, which resulted in the damage to the Philippine ship, has increased tensions between the two sides near the Scarborough Shoal and the Sakon Thomas Shoal, another disputed area where a Philippine warship was sunk to bolster the country's claims, according to Voice of America. Was deliberately erected, China claims sovereignty over it.Over much of the South China Sea, rival claims by neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam were ignored. However, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled against China's claims in 2016, a ruling that has been rejected by Beijing, according to reports. Meanwhile, China issued a stern warning to the Philippines, criticizing Filipino fishermen in the West. Again cautioned against any misuse of China's goodwill. Philippine Sea. Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for Beijing's Foreign Ministry, stressed that violations of China's territorial sovereignty would be responded to in accordance with Manila Standard. Wang recalled a previous arrangement in 2016, in which Filipino fishermen were banned from fishing near Huangyan Dao. Limited access was allowed to China, with China monitoring their activities. H warned that if the Philippines violates this arrangement, China will defend its rights and take necessary measures in accordance with law "China in 2016 sent a small number of small fishing boats to Filipino fishermen in the waters off Huangyan. Dao, while China continues to supervise and monitor the relevant activities of Philippine fishermen in accordance with law," Wang said during a press conference on Wednesday night.The Filipino flotilla, consisting of five commercial fishing vessels and about 10 fishing boats, set course for Bajo de. Masinloc, within the West Philippine Sea, the journey is expected to last three days. However, their mission was hampered as Chinese coast guard ships were seen following the convoy, according to reports China says the West Philippine Sea, including Bajo de Masinloc, falls under its jurisdiction, escalating tensions in the Scarborough Shoal area Is. The Philippines' main island, located about 240 kilometers west of Luzon, has remained a potential hotspot since China's occupation in 2012. Despite international rulings against its claims, China continues to assert control over vast swathes of the South China Sea, setting the stage for frequent disputes.Wang, along with neighboring countries, also said that any consequences resulting from the Philippines' actions will be fully borne by the country. According to the Manila Standard, the Chinese official warned, "If the Philippines abuses China's goodwill and violates China's territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction, we will defend our rights and take countermeasures in accordance with the law.""