The Philippines accused China's coast guard on Sunday of intercepting a Filipino military supply boat in the South China Sea and targeting it with water cannons, condemning the use of "excessive and aggressive measures" against its vessels. In response, the Chinese coast guard stated that it "applied necessary controls according to the law to deter Filipino vessels that it accuses of trespassing and carrying illegal construction materials."
Beijing asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a claim that is rejected internationally, while Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines claim sovereignty over specific areas within the waterway. The Philippine Armed Forces reported that "a Chinese coast guard vessel intercepted the Filipino boat on Saturday and directed water cannons at it while the Filipino vessel was on a routine mission to rotate troops and resupply them," which they stated was a "flagrant disregard for the safety of those on board and a violation of international law."
They added that "the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese coast guard prevented another supply boat from unloading and completing its mission." A spokesperson for the Chinese coast guard noted that "China's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and the adjacent waters is beyond question, including the area where the Filipino boat was located." They urged the Filipino side to "immediately cease its intrusive activities in those waters."
The U.S. State Department commented after the incident, saying, "China's repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea pose a direct threat to regional peace and stability," asserting that Washington stands with its ally, the Philippines, in facing such "dangerous actions."
