In the South China Sea, a fleet of Chinese vessels surrounded a Philippine Coast Guard ship Tuesday morning, March 5. CNN and The Wall Street Journal reporters were aboard a Philippine ship, marking the first instance of foreign journalists joining the mission. The reporters observed a Chinese boat firing a water cannon at the Philippine vessel, shattering one of its windows.
Four Filipino coast guardsmen sustained injuries in the attack.
The Philippine vessel was on a resupply mission and en route to troops in Second Thomas Shoal. The vessel was accompanied by three others. The Chinese effectively isolated the ships, permitting only one Philippine boat to complete its cargo delivery.
The Philippines also accused a Chinese Coast Guard ship of brushing against two of its vessels.
Second Thomas Shoal bears strategic significance for the Philippines in asserting its claims in the South China Sea amid struggles in the region.
The U.S. condemned China’s actions and supported the Philippines, while China claimed self-defense and accused the Philippines of intruding into its waters.
A spokesperson for the Philippines Coast Guard informed The Wall Street Journal that the mere passage of a single boat beyond the Chinese fleet rendered it a “very successful mission.”
