Two Chinese coast guard ships fired at a Philippine supply boat with water cannon near a disputed South China Sea shoal, causing heavy damage to the vessel. The incident occurred during an attempt to deliver supplies to Philippine forces stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal. This marks the second time this month that the supply boat, Unaizah May 4, has been damaged in a confrontation.
The shoal, which has been occupied by Philippine navy personnel since the late 1990s, is at the center of a territorial standoff with Chinese coast guard and suspected militia vessels. The South China Sea is a region where multiple countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei, have overlapping claims due to its strategic importance as a global trade route.
Amidst the tensions, a Philippine coast guard ship escorting the supply boat was also surrounded by Chinese coast guard and suspected militia vessels. The Philippine coast guard spokesperson criticized the Chinese maritime forces for their actions, which he deemed as irresponsible and provocative.
Video footage released by the Philippine military shows the Chinese coast guard ships using high-pressure water cannon sprays on the wooden-hulled boat at close range, resulting in significant damage. The Philippine military reported that the boat sustained substantial damage, but there were no immediate statements from Chinese officials regarding the incident.
Previous confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have escalated, with the Chinese coast guard firing water cannon blasts at the Unaizah May 4 in a similar incident earlier this month. The Philippines has lodged protests against these actions, while the United States has reiterated its commitment to defend the Philippines as its oldest treaty ally in Asia.
China has maintained its stance on the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, urging the U.S. to refrain from involvement in what it considers a regional matter. The ongoing tensions in the region highlight the complex dynamics at play in one of the world's most contested maritime areas.
