Beijing: China yesterday accused the Philippines of spreading “rumours” as it refuted allegations by Manila that it has secretly begun work to build an artificial island at the crucial Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea after an international tribunal struck down Beijing’s claims.

The Philippines released images yesterday claiming to show Chinese ships preparing to build the artificial island, hours before leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Laos.