MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine patrol vessels Tuesday near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing minor damage to one vessel, in the latest flareup in an increasingly tense territorial conflict. There were no immediate reports of injuries in the incident off Scarborough Shoal, one of two hotly disputed areas where confrontations between China and the Philippines have flared on and off since last year. A Philippine coast guard ship and an accompanying fisheries vessel were patrolling the waters off Scarborough Shoal when four Chinese coast guard ships, backed by six suspected militia ships, executed dangerous blocking maneuvers, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said. A Chinese coast guard ship used a water cannon against the fisheries vessel, the BRP Bankaw, and two other Chinese coast guard ships hit the Philippine coast guard ship, the BRP Bagacay, simultaneously from both sides, damaging part of its deck railing and a canopy, Tarriela said. |
Türkiye's Istanbul welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group after pandemicZhou wants to inspire a new generation of hometown heroesNets edge Raptors to snap sixJodie TurnerIslamic Jihad commander killed in Rafah: Israeli armyChina to ease tour restrictions for festivalBellinger returns from broken ribs, giving Cubs' lineup a big boostNadal says he is not 100% fit ahead of Madrid debutIvankovic vows all2024 NHL draft lottery: Sharks win right to No. 1 pick for 1st time in team history