Philippine Fishermen Injured in South China Sea Confrontation
Manila says water cannon attacks and deliberate obstruction damaged fishing boats in disputed waters near Sabina Shoal
Philipnes, PUREWILAYAH.COM — The Philippines announced that three of its fishermen were injured after Chinese Coast Guard vessels confronted Filipino fishing boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea, spraying them with high-pressure water cannons and cutting their anchor lines, according to Philippine authorities.
The incident occurred near Sabina Shoal, a fish-rich area located around 150 kilometers from the Philippine island of Palawan. Chinese authorities stated that they had taken what they described as “necessary control measures” against approximately 20 Filipino fishing boats in the area.
Injuries, Boat Damage, and Dangerous Maneuvers
A spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on Saturday that Filipino fishermen were targeted with water cannons and subjected to dangerous blocking maneuvers.
Three fishermen sustained injuries, including bruises and open wounds, while two Filipino fishing boats suffered severe damage due to the high-pressure water streams.
The spokesperson added that small Chinese vessels deliberately cut the anchor lines of several Filipino boats. Video footage released by the Philippine side showed powerful water jets striking small wooden fishing vessels, which the spokesperson said resulted in the destruction of parts of the boats’ wooden structures.
Competing Claims and Rising Tensions
The Chinese Coast Guard, in its own statement, said it carried out “appropriate control measures” against Philippine vessels, including issuing warnings via loudspeakers and conducting external maneuvers to force them away.
The confrontation marks a new escalation in a series of increasingly frequent encounters between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway that China claims almost in its entirety, despite an international ruling stating that such claims lack legal basis.
The Chinese embassy in Manila declined to comment on the incident. In October, the Philippines accused a Chinese vessel of deliberately ramming one of its government ships in the Spratly Islands, an allegation China rejected, instead blaming Manila for the collision. (PW)