The Philippines lodged accusations against China’s coast guard on Wednesday, asserting that Beijing’s use of water cannons had heightened tensions in the South China Sea, resulting in damage to two vessels.
Officials revealed that a Philippine Coast Guard ship and a fisheries vessel incurred damage when Chinese Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons at them while en route to the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, intended to aid Filipino fishermen.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for South China Sea affairs, condemned China’s actions, stating that the use of water cannons against their vessel marked an escalation in tensions, portraying China as a force willing to violate international law with brute force.
While no country claims sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal, located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), it has been a persistent flashpoint between the Philippines and China due to its strategic importance for fishing and shipping.
Tarriela emphasized that China’s use of water cannons, while not constituting an armed attack, has increasingly damaged Philippine ships, raising concerns about Beijing’s aggressive tactics in the region.
With a mutual defense treaty with the United States, the Philippines enjoys Washington’s commitment to defending its ally against armed attacks on Filipino military and public vessels in the South China Sea.
Responding to the allegations, China’s embassy in Manila reiterated its sovereignty claim over Scarborough Shoal, urging the Philippines to cease provocations and respect China’s resolve to defend its territorial integrity.
China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea conflict with those of several Southeast Asian nations and have been contested in international forums, including a 2016 tribunal ruling that deemed China’s claim without legal basis, a decision rejected by Beijing.
