Philippines Reports China Coast Guard ‘Sideswiped’ Vessel, Fired Water Cannon

The Philippines has reported that the China Coast Guard deployed water cannons and “sideswiped” one of its government vessels in the South China Sea. This event occurred close to the contested Scarborough Shoal, with Beijing asserting its actions were “in accordance with the law”. The US ambassador to the Philippines denounced China’s “unlawful use of water cannons and dangerous manoeuvres”. The South China Sea is a focal point of a territorial dispute involving China, the Philippines, and other nations. Nevertheless, tensions between Manila and Beijing have intensified considerably over the past year. On Wednesday, Manila disseminated a video that seemingly depicts a Chinese coast guard vessel directing a water blast at a Philippines fisheries department ship. Additional footage, reportedly filmed from the Philippine ship, captured its crew yelling “Collision! Collision!” as the Chinese boat made contact. The BBC has not independently authenticated this footage. The Philippine coast guard stated that the Chinese coast guard ship “intentionally sideswiped” their vessel before subsequently “launched a second water cannon attack on the same vessel”. China’s coast guard initially declared that Philippine ships “came dangerously close” and that its personnel’s conduct was “in accordance with the law”. Subsequently, it accused the Philippines of fabricating “bogus accusations in an attempt to mislead international understanding” and claimed the Philippines had intentionally collided with the Chinese ship. However, MaryKay Carlson, the US ambassador to the Philippines, asserted, “we condemn these actions” by China. Through a post on X, she conveyed that “unlawful use of water cannons and dangerous manoeuvres disrupted a Philippine maritime operation … putting lives at risk”. This incident represents the most recent in a series of perilous confrontations over the past year, as both parties endeavor to assert their claims over contested reefs and outcrops within the South China Sea, such as the Second Thomas Shoal and the Scarborough Shoal. These collisions typically result from the cat-and-mouse tactics employed by the vessels as they try to deter the opposing side. China has progressively directed powerful water cannons and lasers at Philippine ships, with Filipinos also alleging that Chinese personnel have boarded their boats, resulting in scuffles, along with the confiscation of items and the puncturing of their inflatable vessels.