The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of firing a water cannon at and damaging a Philippine supply ship in a new incident on Saturday (March 23) in the South China Sea.
According to the Philippine military, the attack, which lasted nearly an hour, occurred off the coast of Second Thomas Atoll, where Chinese ships previously used water cannons and collided with Philippine ships in previous confrontations in recent months.
The military released videos showing a white ship repeatedly spraying another ship with a water cannon. In images, two white ships are simultaneously pulling water onto the same boat. It also released another video showing a white vessel marked "China Coast Guard" (CCG) cutting off a gray vessel that it identified as the Philippine supply boat Unaizah May 4.
According to the Philippine army, these videos were filmed Saturday morning while the Unaizah May 4 was heading towards the Ayungin Atoll, the Filipino name for this outcrop occupied by a small unit of Filipino soldiers and claimed by Beijing. “The supply boat UM4 suffered significant damage at around 08:52 due to continuous fire from water cannons from CCG ships,” the military said in a statement, without describing the nature of the damage or specifying whether there was any damage. had victims. A Philippine coast guard vessel then joined the boat “to provide assistance,” according to the military.
Despite this clash, the supply vessel was able to deliver its cargo and drop off six members of the navy on the atoll, added the same source. Filipino soldiers stationed on the atoll live aboard a decommissioned warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, and require frequent resupply. The maritime connection is also necessary for staff rotations.
Philippines 'playing with fire', says Beijing
Chinese coast guard spokesman Gan Yu said in a statement that the Philippine convoy “forcibly entered the area despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side and route checks,” adding that the Chinese had proceeded “to control, obstruct and expel [the Philippine ship] in accordance with law.”
“We strongly warn the Philippine side that those who play with fire will shame themselves. The Chinese Coast Guard is ready at all times to resolutely safeguard our country's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests,” Gan added.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, where several coastal countries have competing claims, and is ignoring an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated America's "ironclad" commitment to defending the Philippines in the South China Sea during a visit to Manila. Two days after Mr. Blinken's visit, the Chinese coast guard attempted to repel Filipino scientists who had docked on two islets in Scarborough Atoll, another disputed outcrop in the South China Sea.
