Philippines condemns "dangerous" Chinese actions in disputed waters

Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons and conducted hazardous manoeuvres against Philippine ships in the disputed South China Sea on July 23, according to the Philippine Coast Guard, quoted by dpa, marking the third such incident within the same week.

The Philippine vessels were engaged in delivering fuel subsidies to local fishermen and carrying out routine patrol operations at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, an area Manila says lies within its exclusive economic zone.

No injuries were reported, and all four Philippine vessels — including a coast guard ship and one operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) — successfully completed their mission, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

According to the agency, the encounter involved 12 China Coast Guard vessels and three Chinese maritime militia ships. Two Philippine vessels were struck by water cannons, while two others were subjected to manoeuvres described as dangerous and posing a risk of collision.

The Philippine Coast Guard condemned what it called the China Coast Guard’s “dangerous and unprofessional actions” and reiterated its position that Scarborough Shoal and its surrounding waters are part of Philippine territory.

The latest confrontation follows two earlier incidents this week, coinciding with meetings of foreign ministers from the Asia-Pacific region in Manila for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gatherings and related dialogue sessions.

In a joint statement, ASEAN foreign ministers emphasised the importance of reducing tensions in the South China Sea and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing negotiations on a code of conduct aimed at preventing conflict in the contested waters.

Separately, Beijing has previously summoned the Philippine ambassador to China to lodge a formal protest over an earlier maritime confrontation near Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ren’ai Reef.

By Tamilla Hasanova