China Coast Guard Fires Water Cannons at Philippine Vessels in South China Sea

On April 30, 2024, Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, damaging two ships from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned the Chinese embassy's deputy chief of mission, Zhou Zhiyong, to protest the incident and demanded that Chinese vessels leave the area immediately.

Why this matters: The escalating tensions in the South China Sea have significant implications for regional security and theglobal economy, as the area is a critical shipping route. The incident also highlights the need for a unified response from Southeast Asian countries and their international partners to counter China's aggressive territorial claims.

The DFA also protested the "harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous maneuvers, use of water cannons, and other aggressive actions" of Chinese vessels against Philippine ships. The Philippine Coast Guard estimated the repair costs for its damaged ship at PHP 2 to 3 million (between U.S. $34,700 to 52,000). China claimed "indisputable sovereignty" over Scarborough Shoal and its adjacent waters, stating that the Philippine vessels entered the area without permission.

This is not the first time Chinese vessels have used water cannons against Philippine boats near the shoal. The Philippines has filed 153 diplomatic protests against China over its activities in the South China Sea since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in July 2022. Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Dao in China, lies within Manila's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone but has been under Beijing's de-facto control for over a decade.

The incident occurred during the largest annual joint military drills between the U.S. and the Philippines, Balikatan, which took place in Philippine waters that overlap China's territorial claims in the sea. The South China Sea has been a long-standing source of tension in the region, with overlapping territorial claims between China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

In 2012, the Philippines took China to a world court over a standoff at Scarborough Shoal, and in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of Manila, dismissing Beijing's sweeping territorial claims to the South China Sea. However, China has refused to acknowledge the ruling. The Chinese embassy spokesperson stated, "The China Coast Guard took necessary measures to expel them in accordance with the law. The operations on the ground were professional, rational, reasonable and legitimate."

Key Takeaways

• Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal.
• Two Philippine ships were damaged, with repair costs estimated at $34,700 to $52,000.
• Philippines protested the incident, demanding Chinese vessels leave the area immediately.
• China claims "indisputable sovereignty" over Scarborough Shoal and adjacent waters.
• Incident highlights need for unified response from Southeast Asian countries and international partners.