The Philippines today accused the Chinese Coast Guard of firing water cannons to “interfere” with three government vessels.
A statement from the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea said, “Chinese Coast Guard ships utilised water cannons to obstruct” the government vessels delivering provisions to Filipino fishermen near a Chinese-controlled reef in the South China Sea.
The incident occurred near Scarborough Shoal, a point of tension between Manila and Beijing since China took control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, Beijing has stationed patrol boats there. Manila says China’s patrol boats harass Filipino vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from reaching the lagoon where there are more fish.
Scarborough Shoal is 240 kilometres west of the main Philippine island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese landmass, Hainan.
Additionally, this is not the first time the Philippines has clashed with the Chinese Coast Guard. Recently, the US, Japan and South Korea met to discuss North Korea’s position and China’s growing agitation in the South China Sea.
