The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Saturday that three Filipino fishermen sustained injuries and two fishing vessels incurred "significant damage" after Chinese Coast Guard ships deployed water cannons at a contested shoal in the South China Sea.
According to officials in Manila, the incident occurred on Friday when nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats operating near Sabina Shoal were subjected to aggressive blocking maneuvers and water cannon blasts. Additionally, the report noted that a small Chinese speedboat severed the anchor lines of several Filipino vessels, creating a direct hazard for the crews on board.
"The PCG calls on the Chinese Coast Guard to adhere to internationally recognised standards of conduct, prioritising the preservation of life at sea over pretensions of law enforcement that jeopardize the lives of innocent fishermen," the Manila coast guard declared in a formal statement.
While the Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside of standard business hours, China’s coast guard had released a statement on Friday confirming it had expelled multiple Philippine vessels and implemented "control measures" in the area.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela asserted on Saturday that the Chinese statement amounted to a tacit admission of guilt regarding the confrontation.
"They admitted this evil wrongdoing to ordinary Filipino fishermen," Tarriela stated during a telephone interview.
The situation was further complicated when Philippine Coast Guard vessels, deployed to assist the wounded fishermen, faced repeated blockades that hindered their approach to Sabina Shoal.
"Despite these unprofessional and unlawful interferences, the PCG successfully reached the fishermen this morning and provided immediate medical attention to the injured, along with essential supplies," the statement confirmed.
Sabina Shoal, identified as Xianbin Reef by Beijing and Escoda Shoal by Manila, is located approximately 150 km (95 miles) west of Palawan province, placing it firmly within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
China maintains sovereignty claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, a critical maritime artery that facilitates over $3 trillion in annual global commerce; these sweeping claims encroach upon the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled that Beijing’s expansive territorial assertions had no legal basis under international law, a verdict that China continues to reject.
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Source: REUTERS