Three Filipino fishermen were injured in a confrontation with the China Coast Guard near Sabina Shoal, escalating tensions in disputed waters.
Three Filipino fishermen were injured and two boats were damaged after the China Coast Guard fired water cannons in disputed waters near Sabina Shoal, according to reports from Reuters.
The Philippine Coast Guard stated that nearly two dozen fishing vessels were targeted, with a small Chinese boat executing blocking maneuvers and cutting anchor lines. Manila condemned these actions as endangering lives and violating international standards of conduct.
In response, China's coast guard claimed it had driven away multiple vessels and implemented 'control measures,' alleging that the Philippine boats had entered the waters to provoke incidents. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela remarked that this statement amounted to an admission of wrongdoing.
Coast guard vessels dispatched to assist the injured fishermen faced repeated blockages but eventually reached Sabina Shoal to provide medical care and supplies. The shoal is located 150 kilometers west of Palawan, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
China asserts claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, a crucial waterway that facilitates over US$4.5 trillion in annual trade. These claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that Beijing's extensive claims lack legal basis under international law, a decision that China has rejected. This latest clash adds to the rising tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed waters.
