By Francis Tuschek, Staff Writer
The Philippines reported that the China Coast Guard used a water cannon and “sideswiped” a government vessel on Wednesday during a maritime patrol near the contested Scarborough Shoal, following China’s assertion that it had “exercised control” over the ship.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, disregarding competing claims from countries like the Philippines and an international ruling that denies the legitimacy of its claims.
In the past year, vessels from both nations have frequently clashed, leading to injuries and damages.
Tensions escalated again on Wednesday when Manila released a video that appeared to show a Chinese coast guard ship directing a stream of water at the Philippine fisheries department vessel, BRP Datu Pagbuaya. Additional footage from the Philippine ship captured the crew shouting “Collision! Collision!” as the larger Chinese vessel approached from the right and collided with it.
According to a joint statement from the Philippine coast guard and fisheries ministry, the water cannon was aimed “directly at the vessel’s navigational antennas.” They also claimed that the Chinese vessel “intentionally sideswiped” their ship before launching a second water cannon attack.
In an initial response, China’s coast guard stated that Philippine ships had “come dangerously close” and that their crew’s actions were “in accordance with the law.” However, they later accused Manila of making “bogus accusations to mislead international understanding,” claiming the Philippine vessel had “turned sharply and reversed, deliberately colliding” with the Chinese ship. The drone footage released by Manila does not show the Philippine vessel reversing.