China's coast guard said it took action against Philippine ships in disputed waters in the South China Sea on Saturday (23). The Philippines condemned the maneuvers, including the use of water cannons, as “irresponsible and provocative.”
China's actions caused “significant damage” and injuries to personnel on a civilian boat hired to resupply troops, the Philippine South China Sea task force said in a statement.
The incident occurred in the waters off Second Thomas Shoal and the Spratly Islands, according to the Chinese coast guard. The site is home to a small number of Philippine troops stationed on a warship that Manila ran aground there in 1999 to bolster its sovereignty claims.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, which is within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, and has deployed ships to patrol the disputed atoll.
A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded that China's broad claims have no legal basis.
The civilian boat was being escorted by two Philippine Navy vessels and two Philippine Coast Guard vessels, according to a statement from the Philippine Army.
A Philippine Coast Guard vessel was “impeded” and “surrounded” by a Chinese Coast Guard boat and two Chinese maritime militia boats, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement.
The US State Department supported the Philippines and condemned Chinese actions in the South China Sea, which it classified as “dangerous”.
Source: CNN Brasil
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