Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon at its vessels - Times of India

Source: The Times of India
Author: Toi World Desk

NEW DELHI: The Philippines reported that the China Coast Guard used water cannons against two Philippine vessels during a patrol near a reef off the Southeast Asian nation on Tuesday, causing damage to one of the ships. The incident occurred near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal, a potential flashpoint in the disputed South China Sea, as the vessels were on a mission to resupply Filipino fishermen.

According to a statement released by the Philippine Coast Guard, "This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels." The statement also mentioned that the China Coast Guard had reinstalled a 380-metre (416-yard) barrier across the entrance to the shoal, preventing access to the waters inside the traditional fishing ground.

Meanwhile, China's Coast Guard said that it had "expelled" two Philippine ships from its waters in the disputed South China Sea, as Manila accused Beijing of using water cannons against two of its vessels.

"On April 30, the Chinese Coast Guard, in accordance with the law, expelled Philippine coast guard ship 4410 and government ship 3004 after they intruded into the waters adjacent to Huangyan Island," the Coast Guard said in a statement, referring to the Scarborough Shoal by its Chinese name.

The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs and rocks, is situated 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. China seized the shoal from the Philippines in 2012 and has since deployed coast guard and other vessels that Manila claims harass Philippine ships and prevent its fishermen from accessing the fish-rich lagoon.

China asserts its claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, disregarding rival claims from other countries, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes in the waterway, with several collisions involving Filipino and Chinese vessels in recent months, as well as water cannoning by the China Coast Guard.

The latest incident coincides with a major annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States, which has angered Beijing. The vessels involved in the incident were a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) boat, which were delivering fuel and food to fishermen operating near the reef.

According to the statement by Philippine Coast Guard, "During the patrol, the Philippine vessels encountered dangerous maneuvers and obstruction from four China Coast Guard vessels and six Chinese Maritime Militia vessels." The China Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons at the BFAR and Philippine Coast Guard boat, with the PCG vessel being sprayed from both sides, resulting in damage to its railing and canopy.

Despite the harassment and provocative actions by the Chinese Coast Guard, the statement emphasized that "both the PCG and BFAR vessels stood their ground and continued their maritime patrol."

(With inputs from agencies)

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