China Coast Guard Attacks Philippine Vessels in South China Sea

Three Filipino fishermen were wounded and two vessels sustained “significant damage” after the China Coast Guard fired water cannons at them near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said Friday.

South China Sea Standoff: Water Cannon Incident

Nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats near Sabina Shoal were targeted with water cannons and blocking maneuvers, according to Manila’s coastguard. A Chinese coastguard vessel also reportedly cut the anchor lines of several Filipino boats, putting crews at risk.

“The PCG calls on the Chinese Coast Guard to adhere to internationally recognised standards of conduct, prioritising the preservation of life at sea over pretensions of law enforcement that jeopardise the lives of innocent fishermen,” the Philippine Coast Guard stated.

China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the Chinese coastguard said Friday it had driven away multiple vessels and taken “control measures.”

The Philippine Coast Guard said its vessels, deployed to assist the injured fishermen, were repeatedly blocked from reaching Sabina Shoal. Despite the interference, the PCG successfully reached the fishermen and provided medical attention and supplies.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said Saturday that China’s statement claiming the Philippine vessels had entered the waters to “cause trouble and provoke incidents” was an admission of wrongdoing. “They admitted this evil wrongdoing to ordinary Filipino fishermen,” Tarriela said.

Sabina Shoal, known as Xianbin Reef by China and Escoda Shoal by the Philippines, lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, approximately 150 kilometers west of Palawan province.

China asserts claims over almost the entire South China Sea, a vital waterway for more than $4.5 trillion in annual trade. These claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims, a decision China rejects.