China, South China Sea 'Clash' After Two Months... Water Cannon Fired at Philippine Vessel

In the South China Sea, Chinese coast guard vessels once again used water cannons against Philippine ships.

Chinese Coast Guard Ship Attacks Philippine Vessel with Water Cannon in the South China Sea
On April 30 (local time), near Scarborough Shoal (Chinese name Huangyan Dao) in the South China Sea, Chinese coast guard ships attacked a Philippine coast guard vessel (center) with water cannons. 2024.10.09
[AFP Yonhap News archive photo, redistribution and DB prohibited]

According to major foreign media on the 9th (local time), the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported that Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons at two BFAR vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Chinese name Huangyan Dao) the previous morning.

While BFAR vessels were performing routine tasks of supplying goods to Philippine fishing boats operating near Scarborough Shoal, three Chinese coast guard vessels and one Chinese navy warship approached and followed them. Subsequently, the Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons at the Philippine BFAR vessels, but the water did not hit the Philippine ships.

Despite the "dangerous maneuvers and water cannon firing" by the Chinese vessels, BFAR explained that their vessels successfully supplied goods to 23 Philippine fishing boats. They added that Chinese vessels would not be able to prevent the Philippines from patrolling its waters and supporting Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (the name used by the Philippines for the part of the South China Sea it claims sovereignty over).

In response, the Chinese Coast Guard issued a statement on the same day under spokesperson Liu Dejun’s name, claiming that two Philippine vessels deliberately intruded into waters near Scarborough Shoal without Chinese government permission. The statement asserted, "Chinese coast guard vessels tracked and monitored the entire process and took control measures according to the law," and that "the on-site actions were professional, standardized, justified, and legal."

In the South China Sea, the two countries had several clashes at Sabina Shoal (Chinese name Xianbin Jiao, Philippine name Escoda Shoal) in August, but maintained a lull without significant incidents last month. After the Philippines deployed the large coast guard vessel Teresa Magbanua to Sabina Shoal in May, China demanded its withdrawal and physically collided with the vessel multiple times with its own ships four times in August. Subsequently, the Philippines withdrew the partially damaged Teresa Magbanua and redeployed navy warships and coast guard vessels to Sabina Shoal as replacements.

Additionally, at the end of last month, when China responded to joint military exercises by the US, the Philippines, and three other countries with counter-exercises, the US, the Philippines, and four other countries conducted joint exercises near Taiwan this week. Thus, both countries continue to engage in shows of force to check each other in the South China Sea.