MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine patrol vessels Tuesday near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing minor damage to one vessel, in the latest flareup in an increasingly tense territorial conflict.
There were no immediate reports of injuries in the incident off Scarborough Shoal, one of two hotly disputed areas where confrontations between China and the Philippines have flared on and off since last year.
A Philippine coast guard ship and an accompanying fisheries vessel were patrolling the waters off Scarborough Shoal when four Chinese coast guard ships, backed by six suspected militia ships, executed dangerous blocking maneuvers, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
A Chinese coast guard ship used a water cannon against the fisheries vessel, the BRP Bankaw, and two other Chinese coast guard ships hit the Philippine coast guard ship, the BRP Bagacay, simultaneously from both sides, damaging part of its deck railing and a canopy, Tarriela said.
India recalls Rishabh Pant for T20 World Cup after near
Watch: PM Christopher Luxon announces building products shake
Israel dismisses UN resolution on possible war crimes as 'distorted text'
Samsung: Tech giant sees profits jump by more than 900%
In unusual push, funders band together to get out grants around election work 'early'
Auckland's rail operators promise city's trains will run more smoothly
More videos of Kiwi hostage Philip Mehrtens in Papua warn against Indonesian military air strikes
Israel dismisses UN resolution on possible war crimes as 'distorted text'
Niwa proposes to cut up to 90 jobs