Philippines Denounces China for Water Cannon Attack on Vessels

The ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) accused the Chinese Coast Guard of using water cannons against its vessels for the second consecutive day. This incident occurred near the Scarborough Shoal, a site that lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. According to the PCG, a Chinese vessel approached a Philippine fisheries boat to within approximately seven meters (23 feet), creating a significant risk of collision. The spokesperson for the PCG, Jay Tarriela, expressed strong condemnation of what he described as dangerous and unprofessional conduct by the Chinese forces. He emphasized that the Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen, asserting that their rights cannot be infringed upon by any foreign entity.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that the confrontation involved 12 vessels from the China Coast Guard and three from the Chinese maritime militia. During the altercation, water cannons were deployed against two Philippine ships, while two additional vessels had to execute risky maneuvers to avoid collisions. These Philippine vessels were engaged in delivering fuel subsidies to local fishermen and were conducting routine patrols in the Scarborough Shoal, also known locally as Bajo de Masinloc. In response to the incident, the Chinese Coast Guard stated that it had implemented “control measures” against several Philippine vessels, which it claimed were operating illegally in the area. They accused the Philippines of organizing multiple government and coastguard vessels, along with numerous fishing boats, to illegally gather in the waters surrounding the shoal. The Chinese authorities indicated that they had taken legal actions to warn, block, and utilize water cannons after the Philippine vessels disregarded their directives.