This frame grab from handout aerial video footage taken and released on March 23, 2024 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows a China Coast Guard ship (top) deploying water cannon against the Philippine military-chartered civilian boat Unaizah May 4 during its supply mission near the Second Thomas Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of blocking and firing water cannon at a Filipino supply vessel on March 23 off a remote and contested South China Sea reef. -- (Photo by ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES / AFP)
MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippines on Saturday said a Filipino civilian boat was severely damaged after two China Coast Guard ships fired water cannons at it, in the latest confrontation between the two nations in the disputed South China Sea.
Chinese ships "deliberately” targeted the Unaizah May 4, which was on its way to resupply Filipino troops stationed at an outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippine military said in a statement that contained videos of the incident.
The supply boat could not continue its course due to "direct blasting” of water cannons, while the Chinese Maritime Militia installed floating barriers to prevent vessels from entering the shoal, the Philippine military said. Six Philippine navy personnel and essential cargoes were transferred from the supply boat and an accompanying Philippine Coast Guard vessel to the outpost using an inflatable craft, according to the statement.
The Philippines said Unaizah May 4 was on a mission to resupply and rotate troops on BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship that Manila deliberately grounded in 1999 to serve as its military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal.
Earlier this month, two China Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons at the Philippine boat, shattering its windshield, injuring four crew members and forcing it to back off.
In the latest mission, the Philippine military also reported blocking and "dangerous” maneuvers by the China Coast Guard against the supply vessel prior to the water cannon incident.
A Philippine Coast Guard ship "was impeded and encircled” by a China Coast Guard vessel and two China Maritime Militia boats, Filipino spokesperson Jay Tarriela said in a separate post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The coast guard ship was isolated from the supply boat "due to the irresponsible and provocative behavior of the Chinese maritime forces,” Tarriela said.
Manila’s efforts to maintain the BRP Sierra Madre have been opposed by China, which claims disputed areas of the South China Sea are its territory. The China Coast Guard, in a statement on Saturday, said it took control measures against Philippine ships that illegally entered the waters near Ren’ai Shoal, Beijing’s name for Second Thomas Shoal.
Two Philippine navy ships and two coast guard vessels were deployed to escort Unaizah May 4 in the latest mission, the military said earlier.
The mission’s aim was to rotate troops aboard BRP Sierra Madre after one of the personnel needed serious medical attention and was evacuated, it said. "Personnel are being rotated in to ensure that BRP Sierra Madre’s mission posture remains uncompromised,” it said.
--With assistance from Jacob Gu. -- ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.
