BEIJING (Reuters) -&nbsp;China's&nbsp;military&nbsp;said on Monday that a&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;vessel "illegally entered"&nbsp;waters&nbsp;near&nbsp;Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal&nbsp;without authorisation and it urged the&nbsp;Philippines to immediately stop its provocations.
China&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Philippines have had several confrontations in disputed&nbsp;waters&nbsp;in the South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea, recently trading accusations about a collision between a Chinese coastguard vessel and a&nbsp;boat&nbsp;from the&nbsp;Philippines.
"We are urging the&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;side to immediately stop its infringement and provocations, and earnestly avoid further escalation," said senior colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command.
The&nbsp;Scarborough&nbsp;Shoal&nbsp;is claimed by&nbsp;China, the&nbsp;Philippines and Taiwan.
"The&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;side's actions have seriously violated&nbsp;China's sovereignty and international law and basic norms governing international relations, and are prone to misunderstanding and miscalculation," Tian said.
He said&nbsp;China&nbsp;followed, monitored, warned and blocked the ship in accordance with the law.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the&nbsp;Philippines and Vietnam.
This has caused escalating maritime friction and territorial disputes.
&nbsp;
(Reporting by Ethan Wang and Bernard Orr; Editing by Alison Williams)

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China military says Philippine boat 'illegally entered' waters near Scarborough Shoal