Chinese coast guard vessels used water cannons against Philippine ships, escalating tensions in the South China Sea near Scarborough Shoal.
Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons at Philippine ships, including one carrying a CNN crew, near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, reported CNN.
The confrontation on July 24 was the third in a week. Philippine authorities stated that 15 Chinese vessels, including coast guard and maritime militia units, harassed 10 Philippine ships. One Chinese vessel came within seven meters of the Philippine craft carrying CNN journalists, posing a serious risk of collision.
Beijing's coast guard claimed it took enforcement measures against Philippine vessels engaged in 'illegal activities' around Huangyan Island, China's name for the shoal. Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian asserted that China's actions were 'legitimate and lawful.'
Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, lies 140 miles west of Luzon. China, the Philippines, and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the area, but China has maintained effective control since 2012 with a near-constant coast guard presence.
Earlier in the week, Philippine and Chinese personnel clashed at Second Thomas Shoal, where Manila maintains a small garrison aboard the grounded BRP Sierra Madre. Philippine video footage showed Chinese troops ramming a boat and striking with batons and oars, injuring two service members.
The US condemned China's actions, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirming Washington's defense commitments to Manila under their mutual treaty. Analysts warn that escalating confrontations in the South China Sea, through which one-third of global maritime trade passes, could have severe economic consequences.
China has intensified its patrols, logging 993 ship days around Scarborough Shoal in June alone, nearly matching its total presence for all of 2025. The US has also reinforced the region, redeploying coast guard vessels from Bahrain to the eastern Pacific.
