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Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Watch: Chinese Ship Blasts US Ally's Boat With Water Cannon
The Philippines on Thursday released footage of a confrontation between two government vessels and the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea's hotly contested Spratly Islands. The Chinese cutter can be seen conducting close-quarter maneuvers that Manila said caused a collision, damaging the smaller Philippine vessel and putting its occupants' lives "at risk." Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Philippine Coast Guard for comment. The incident occurred Wednesday morning at Sandy Cay, a string of three sandbars near Thitu Island. Thitu is the only inhabited island in the Spratlys, home to around 250 residents, a modest military outpost, and the Philippines' only airstrip in the archipelago. China claims the island and most of the South China Sea as part of its territory, and has in recent years stepped up patrols to assert control over the waters. Confrontations between the neighbors' maritime forces have on rare occasions left Filipino sailors injured and brought renewed attention to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and the threshold for drawing Washington into a potential conflict with nuclear-armed Beijing. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said in a statement Thursday that Philippine vessels were on a "routine" mission supporting a scientific team collecting sand samples near Sandy Cay. In its attempt to disrupt the activity, Chinese coast guard vessel 21559 "sideswiped" the bow of one of the Philippine ships, the BRP Datu Sanday, damaging its bow and smokestack and "putting at risk the lives of its civilian personnel onboard," the agency said. The Chinese ship also deployed its water cannon-reportedly the first such use against a Philippine fisheries vessel near Sandy Cay. Despite what the bureau described as "aggressive interference, dangerous maneuvers, and illegal acts" by China, the Philippine team completed its research mission. China's coast guard pushed back, accusing the U.S. ally of "illegally" intruding into the waters around Sandy Cay without permission. Coast guard personnel "carried out control measures in accordance with the law and boarded the reef to verify the situation," state media quoted the agency as saying. Sandy Cay, known in the Philippines as Pag-asa and in China as Tiexian Reef, was also the focus of controversy in late April. China's coast guard posted a photo of personnel holding their national flag in a symbolic assertion of Beijing's sovereignty claim. Manila countered shortly after by dispatching a team to the feature to hold a photo-op with their own flag. Liu Dejun, Chinese coast guard spokesperson, was quoted by state media Thursday: "The Philippine side also sent personnel to illegally land on Tiexian Jiao and carry out activities there. In response, CCG law enforcement personnel carried out control measures in accordance with the law and boarded the reef to verify the situation. On-site operations were conducted in a professional, and lawful manner." China will almost certainly continue pressing its claims within the Philippines' maritime zone despite a 2016 decision by an international arbitral court dismissing these claims. The Philippines is expected to continue challenging Chinese incursions, strengthen security ties with the U.S. and regional allies, and advance its ambitious military modernization program. Related Articles US and Ally's Joint Forces Send Warning to ChinaChina Research Ship 'Loitering' Near Undersea Cables: ReportPhotos Show US Coast Guard Ship Deployed to Contested Waters Near ChinaNATO Member's Warship Sends Message to China 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Watch: Chinese Ship Blasts US Ally's Boat With Water Cannon
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippines on Thursday released footage of a confrontation between two government vessels and the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea's hotly contested Spratly Islands. The Chinese cutter can be seen conducting close-quarter maneuvers that Manila said caused a collision, damaging the smaller Philippine vessel and putting its occupants' lives "at risk." Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Philippine Coast Guard for comment. Why It Matters The incident occurred Wednesday morning at Sandy Cay, a string of three sandbars near Thitu Island. Thitu is the only inhabited island in the Spratlys, home to around 250 residents, a modest military outpost, and the Philippines' only airstrip in the archipelago. China claims the island and most of the South China Sea as part of its territory, and has in recent years stepped up patrols to assert control over the waters. Confrontations between the neighbors' maritime forces have on rare occasions left Filipino sailors injured and brought renewed attention to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and the threshold for drawing Washington into a potential conflict with nuclear-armed Beijing. What To Know The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said in a statement Thursday that Philippine vessels were on a "routine" mission supporting a scientific team collecting sand samples near Sandy Cay. In its attempt to disrupt the activity, Chinese coast guard vessel 21559 "sideswiped" the bow of one of the Philippine ships, the BRP Datu Sanday, damaging its bow and smokestack and "putting at risk the lives of its civilian personnel onboard," the agency said. This screen capture shows a Chinese coast guard ship cutting across the bow of a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel and deploying its water cannon near Sandy Cay, a disputed feature in the South China Sea. This screen capture shows a Chinese coast guard ship cutting across the bow of a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel and deploying its water cannon near Sandy Cay, a disputed feature in the South China Sea. Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources The Chinese ship also deployed its water cannon—reportedly the first such use against a Philippine fisheries vessel near Sandy Cay. Despite what the bureau described as "aggressive interference, dangerous maneuvers, and illegal acts" by China, the Philippine team completed its research mission. China's coast guard pushed back, accusing the U.S. ally of "illegally" intruding into the waters around Sandy Cay without permission. Coast guard personnel "carried out control measures in accordance with the law and boarded the reef to verify the situation," state media quoted the agency as saying. Sandy Cay, known in the Philippines as Pag-asa and in China as Tiexian Reef, was also the focus of controversy in late April. China's coast guard posted a photo of personnel holding their national flag in a symbolic assertion of Beijing's sovereignty claim. Manila countered shortly after by dispatching a team to the feature to hold a photo-op with their own flag. What People Are Saying Liu Dejun, Chinese coast guard spokesperson, was quoted by state media Thursday: "The Philippine side also sent personnel to illegally land on Tiexian Jiao and carry out activities there. In response, CCG law enforcement personnel carried out control measures in accordance with the law and boarded the reef to verify the situation. On-site operations were conducted in a professional, and lawful manner." What Happens Next China will almost certainly continue pressing its claims within the Philippines' maritime zone despite a 2016 decision by an international arbitral court dismissing these claims. The Philippines is expected to continue challenging Chinese incursions, strengthen security ties with the U.S. and regional allies, and advance its ambitious military modernization program.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, 'sideswiped' government vessel
MANILA: The Philippines fisheries bureau accused the China Coast Guard on Thursday of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel while it collected sand for a research project. China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Wednesday's encounter happened near a group of small sandbanks in the Spratly Islands where two Filipino ships were collecting sand samples "as part of a marine scientific research initiative", the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said in a statement. "At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice ... putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel." It was the first time water cannon were used against Philippine vessels near the disputed Sandy Cay reef, the bureau added. The "aggressive interference, dangerous manuevers, and illegal acts" damaged the Philippine ship's port bow and smokestack, according to the bureau's statement. The Philippines scientific team was still able "to complete its operations in Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2 and 3", the statement said, using the Philippine term for the Sandy Cays. China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was not aware of the incident. "What I can tell you is that the Chinese Coast Guard always enforces the law in accordance with laws and regulations," she said. Last month, the Philippines slammed as "irresponsible" a Chinese state media report claiming that Sandy Cay 2 was put under China's control. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said that the country's coast guard had "implemented maritime control" over Tiexian Reef in mid-April.
The Star
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, 'sideswiped' govt vessel
Sandy Cay. - Photo: Handout/ Philippine Coast Guard / AFP MANILA: The Philippines fisheries bureau accused the China Coast Guard on Thursday (May 22) of firing water cannon and sideswiping a Filipino government vessel while it collected sand for a research project. China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Wednesday's encounter happened near a group of small sandbanks in the Spratly Islands where two Filipino ships were collecting sand samples "as part of a marine scientific research initiative", the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said in a statement. "At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice ... putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel." It was the first time water cannon were used against Philippine vessels near the disputed Sandy Cay reef, the bureau added. The "aggressive interference, dangerous manuevers, and illegal acts" damaged the Philippine ship's port bow and smokestack, according to the bureau's statement. The Philippines scientific team was still able "to complete its operations in Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2 and 3", the statement said, using the Philippine term for the Sandy Cays. China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was not aware of the incident. "What I can tell you is that the Chinese Coast Guard always enforces the law in accordance with laws and regulations," she said. Last month, the Philippines slammed as "irresponsible" a Chinese state media report claiming that Sandy Cay 2 was put under China's control. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said that the country's coast guard had "implemented maritime control" over Tiexian Reef in mid-April. - AFP
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- General
- GMA Network
Chinese ship used water cannon, sideswiped PH vessel in Sandy Cay — BFAR
A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship reportedly fired water cannon and sideswiped a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Thursday. In a statement, BFAR said its BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a scientific team to collect sand samples in the area as part of a marine scientific research initiative. 'At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice, resulting in some damage to the latter's port bow and smokestack, and putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel onboard,' BFAR said. 'This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-Asa Cays,' it added. BFAR said the Philippine scientific team was able to complete its operations in Pag-asa Cays 1, 2 and 3 despite the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels' 'aggressive, dangerous, and illegal' actions. The bureau pointed out that the incident happened within the territorial sea of the Philippines in the area of Pag-asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2, which are part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the WPS. GMA News Online has sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the incident but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. 'BFAR remains committed to scientific integrity, sustainable fisheries management, and the protection of national interests in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international and domestic law,' BFAR said. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
