Philippine Coast Guard Accuses China of Damaging Ship, Reinstalling Barrier at Disputed Shoal

The Philippine Coast Guard has accused China of damaging a Philippine ship with water cannons and reinstalling a barrier at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which is located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), about 220 km off the Philippine coast.

The incident occurred on Tuesday as a Philippine vessel was sailing to the Scarborough Shoal amid joint military drills with the United States.

According to an official from the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, four China Coast Guard vessels were present and shot water cannons at the Philippine vessel eight times during the morning standoff. The Chinese coast guard also installed a 380-meter floating barrier that covers the entire entrance of the shoal, effectively restricting access to the area.

The Philippine Coast Guard stated that three Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, damaging the railing and canopy of one of the Philippine vessels. The BRP Bagacay sustained damage to its railing and canopy from the use of water cannon by two Chinese coast guard ships.

Why this matters: This incident is the latest flare-up of tensions between the Philippines and China in the disputed South China Sea region, where China claims nearly the entire waterway, including areas that the Philippines says are part of its EEZ. The tensions have increased recently, especially after the Philippines forged stronger diplomatic and military ties with the United States.

The Philippines has rejected China's claim that it had expelled two Philippine vessels from the shoal, which falls within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The two countries have traded accusations of illegal conduct in the strategically important Scarborough Shoal, which has been a site of multiple confrontations in recent years.

China has occupied the Scarborough Shoal for over a decade and has recently installed a floating barrier at the shoal's entrance, effectively restricting access to the area. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 ruled that China's claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis.

The incident happened as the Philippine vessels were delivering fuel and food to Filipino fishermen in the area. "The China Coast Guard had also reinstalled a 380-meter barrier across the entrance to the shoal, blocking access to the waters inside," the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement. The Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground located within the Philippines' EEZ, but China seized control of it in 2012.

This latest incident comes as the Philippines and the United States are holding a major annual military exercise, which has infuriated Beijing. The Philippines has a long history of maritime territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, with several recent incidents involving collisions and water cannoning by the China Coast Guard.

Key Takeaways

• Philippine ship damaged by Chinese water cannons at Scarborough Shoal in disputed S. China Sea
• China reinstalled 380m floating barrier, restricting access to the shoal within Philippines' EEZ
• Incident occurred during joint US-Philippines military drills, escalating tensions in the region
• Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled China's claims in S. China Sea have no legal basis
• Dispute over Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground within Philippines' EEZ, ongoing for years