South China Sea Heats Up, China Shoots Water Cannons At Philippine Ships

Illustration. Water cannon firing ship. (Diego_torres-Pixabay)

China's Coast Guard fired water cannons at Philippine ships near the disputed Beting Scarborough in the South China Sea today, Tuesday, September 16.

Citing Reuters, Tuesday, September 16, Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu said as many as 10 Philippine ships illegally stormed China's territorial waters at the Beting Scarborough from various directions.

Gan Yu also blamed the Philippine Coast Guard ship 3014. He added that the Philippine ship "hauled a stern warning from the Chinese side and accidentally crashed into a Chinese coast guard ship."

"China coast guard has legally implemented control measures against Philippine ships," said Gan Yu.

He added that the measures included measures such as verbal warnings, restriction of routes, and firing of water cannons.

A spokesman for the Philippine Maritime Council has denied accusations by the Chinese coast guard. "Other Chinese cases of disinformation and propaganda," he said.

Analysts say Beijing's plan to categorize the benchmark as a nature reserve is tantamount to efforts to take a high position in the atoll dispute, known as Huangyan Island in Chuina and the Beting Panag in the Philippines.

Confrontation

This tension came a week after China approved plans to make Beting Scarborough China's national heritage.

Defense analysts say China's plan to categorize the benchmark as a nature reserve is tantamount to efforts to take a high position in the atoll dispute, known as Huangyan Island in Chuina and the Beting Panag in the Philippines.

Analysts also said that China's efforts were a test of how the Philippines responded.

The disputed area consists of a series of coral reefs and a triangle-shaped stone covering an area of 150 square kilometers.

The region, which is also part of the struggle for sovereignty and access to fishing in the South China Sea, is an annual trade route worth more than US$3 trillion.

Tense Years

Tensions at the bench have sparked diplomatic disputes in recent years. However, until now there have been no incidents that have increased to become armed conflict in that location.

Both China and the Philippines accuse each other of provocations and violations.

The provocations were fired by water cannons, crashed the ship, and maneuvered the Chinese Coast Guard ship at the beting. This is considered by the Philippines as a dangerous effort, including fighter jets that overshadow Philippine aircraft in the region.