China and the Philippines clash in the South China Sea. Chinese coast guard fires water cannons at a Philippine ship, raising worries about peace in the area.
Tensions rose in the South China Sea on Sunday when Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons and blocked a Philippine fisheries ship. The incident happened near Sabina Shoal, a tense spot in the disputed waters where China and the Philippines often clash.
China and the Philippines Blame Each Other
Both countries are blaming each other for what happened. The Chinese coast guard says they acted because the Philippine ship entered the waters around Sabina Shoal without permission. They also say the Philippine ship ignored several warnings, leading to a small crash.
Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu accused the Philippine crew of sailing too close, causing the ships to touch.
Philippines Claims Dangerous Actions
The Chinese also claim that journalists on the Philippine ship were there to twist the truth. Gan Yu warned the Philippines to stop what he called “provocations” or face the results.
The Philippine government tells a different story. They say eight Chinese ships surrounded their ship, the BRP Datu Sanday, while it was trying to bring supplies to Filipino fishermen. According to them, the Chinese ships rammed their ship, fired water cannons, and caused its engine to stop. The Philippine government called the Chinese actions dangerous and said they are making the area less peaceful.
The United States, a strong ally of the Philippines, also criticized China. U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson called China’s actions “unsafe, unlawful, and aggressive.” She said these actions put lives at risk and broke international law.
The South China Sea remains a highly disputed area, with China’s growing military presence leading to more frequent clashes, especially with the Philippines.
