Philippines Summons China Envoy Over Water Cannon Attack

Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels harassed, rammed, and fired water cannons at Philippine government ships near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in the South China Sea. The aggressive actions by the Chinese vessels resulted in damage to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship and a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) boat that were conducting a resupply mission for Filipino fishermen in the area.

Why this matters: This incident has significant implications for regional stability and freedom of maritime passage in the South China Sea, a vital waterway for global trade. It also highlights the need for a rules-based order in the region to prevent further escalation of tensions between claimant states. This incident has significant implications for regional stability and freedom of maritime movement in the South China Sea, a vital waterway for global trade. It also highlights the need for a rules-based order in the region to prevent further escalation of tensions between claimant states.

The incident prompted the Philippines to summon Zhou Zhiyong, the number two official at the Chinese embassy in Manila, to protest the dangerous maneuvers and demand the immediate withdrawal of Chinese vessels from the area. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a strong statement, declaring, "The Philippines protested the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous maneuvers, use of water cannons, and other aggressive actions of China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels against the vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources en route to Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag)."

The Scarborough Shoal, located approximately 240 kilometers west of the main Philippine island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese landmass, has long been a flashpoint in the territorial disputes between the two nations. China seized control of the shoal from the Philippines in 2012 and has since deployed its coast guard and other vessels to assert its claim, often harassing and preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing the resource-rich lagoon.

The latest incident marks a significant escalation in tensions, with the water cannons used by the Chinese coast guard causing extensive damage to the Philippine vessels. PCG spokesman Jay Tristan Tarriela emphasized the severity of the attack, stating, "This is the first time that we can say that a coast guard vessel has been subjected to a direct water cannon with that kind of pressure that even resulted in structural damage." The cost of the damage to the PCG ship alone, including the port railings, LED screen display, and steel canopy at the back, amounted to approximately 2 million pesos (USD 38,000).

The Philippines has been increasingly assertive in defending its territorial claims in the South China Sea, filing numerous diplomatic protests against China's actions. The recent incident prompted the 20th protest lodged by Manila this year and the 153rd since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in mid-2022. The DFA reiterated its demand for Chinese vessels to leave the shoal and its vicinity immediately.

International support for the Philippines has grown in the wake of the incident, with several countries expressing concern over China's aggressive behavior in the disputed waters. South Korea, through its embassy in Manila, joined other allies of the Philippines in condemning the dangerous maneuvers and use of water cannons against the Philippine vessels. The embassy's statement read, "The embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines is concerned about the recent dangerous maneuvers and use of water cannons against Philippine vessels around the Scarborough Shoal."

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite rival claims from other countries, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. The incident coincided with a major annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States, which has angered Beijing. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded to the incident, stating, "The China Coast Guard took 'necessary measures' against Philippine vessels that infringed on Beijing's territory. These measures were 'in accordance with the law, and the way it handled the situation was professional.'"

As tensions continue to simmer in the South China Sea, the incident at the Scarborough Shoal serves as a vivid illustration of the complex geopolitical challenges in the region. The Philippines, along with other claimant states, remains committed to defending its territorial integrity and ensuring the freedom of maritime passage in the vital waterway. The resolution of the territorial disputes and the establishment of arules-based orderin the South China Sea will be critical for maintaining regional stability and preventing further escalation of tensions.

Key Takeaways

• Chinese coast guard and militia vessels harassed and fired water cannons at Philippine ships near Scarborough Shoal.
• The incident damaged a Philippine Coast Guard ship and a Bureau of Fisheries boat.
• The Philippines summoned China's envoy to protest the incident and demanded the withdrawal of Chinese vessels.
• The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations over territorial disputes.
• International support for the Philippines has grown, with countries condemning China's aggressive behavior.