China is once again being accused of “aggressive actions” in the South China Sea. This time, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday, Dec. 4, Chinese coast guard ships attacked one of its boats with heavy-duty water cannons and intentionally sideswiped it in the disputed waters.
The Philippine Coast Guard says it was on patrol, providing security to Filipino fisherman at Scarborough Shoal, when several Chinese guard and navy ships approached. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, while one Chinese ship unleashed water cannon attacks and hit a Philippine vessel, other Chinese ships were blocking the way.
China claims the Philippine ships intentionally drifted into its territory, accusing the Philippines of using its assertion of protecting anglers as an excuse to provoke its military and “mislead international perception.”
The Chinese are also threatening the Philippines with more action if the claimed provocation continues. The United States condemned Beijing’s aggression, calling the incident illegal and saying it “put lives at risk.”
China’s actions come more than a month after storms prevented Philippine fishing and commercial vessels from traveling in rough water. Despite the incident. the Philippines says the “reckless” behavior will not stop it from continuing to protect fishing operations in what it calls the “West Philippine Sea.”
China claims virtually the entire waterway, even though it’s sweeping designation conflicts with the territorial waters of at least five other Indo-Pacific nations. Additionally, Beijing has also had confrontations with Indonesia in the open sea.
