conflicts
Philippines lament China’s “dangerous manoeuvre”.
This is the second time since November 2021 that the Chinese Coast Guard has used water cannon against a Filipino supply mission (symbolic image). photo
© Japan Coast Guard/dpa
Provocation in the South China Sea? China uses water cannons against Philippine ships, according to the Philippines. A disregard for the safety of the crew, according to Manila.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, a ship of the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea with water cannons on Philippine ships shot.
The island nation’s Coast Guard condemned the attack and called on China to restrain its forces and “stop all illegal activities in the Philippines’ sea areas.” The ships attacked brought food, water and relief supplies for Filipino soldiers stationed there, sources said.
The incident happened on Saturday near a submerged reef about 200 kilometers from the Philippine province of Palawan. A small contingent of Filipino troops is stationed there on an old Filipino warship that ran aground there in 1999 and has since marked the country’s claim to the area.
“These actions by the Chinese Coast Guard not only disregarded the safety of Philippine Coast Guard crews and supply boats, but also violated international law,” the statement said. Due to the “dangerous manoeuvres” by the Chinese Coast Guard, one of the supply boats was unable to complete the mission, the Philippine military said in a separate statement. It was only the second time since November 2021 that the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannon in the area against a Filipino supply mission.
China claims practically the entire South China Sea for itself. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also claim territories there. The United States and China’s neighbors accuse Beijing of increasing militarization of the region. The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected China’s territorial claims in 2016. Beijing ignores the verdict.