China Injured Filipino Fishermen in Contested Sea, Manila Says
A video grab showing a Chinese coast guard ship firing water cannon, in the South China Sea, Dec. 13.
Source: The Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippines said Chinese coast guard and maritime militia ships fired water cannons and used “dangerous blocking maneuvers” toward Filipino fishing boats in the South China Sea, an incident that could fuel tensions between the two nations.
The episode took place on Friday as the fishing boats were “operating lawfully” in the vicinity of Sabina Shoal in the disputed waters, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on Saturday. The region is known as Escoda Shoal in the Philippines, and referred to by China as the Xianbin Reef.