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.
Judge orders man accused of opening fire outside Wrigley Field held without bail
Living Nostradamus warns future epidemics could come from AI laboratories
Hong Kong welcomes joyful, bustling Spring Festival
Baltimore Key bridge collapse: Crews race against time to remove wreckage
Qingdao top Ningbo, Sichuan losing skid reaches 18
UNESCO, Gansu announce partnership
UK lawmakers will vote on a landmark bill aiming to create the country's first smoke
Macron is making a surprise trip to New Caledonia amid deadly unrest and indigenous frustration
Yuan wins Chinese derby to progress at Indian Wells
Trump or Biden? Either way, US seems poised to preserve heavy tariffs on imports
5th China Xizang Tourism and Culture Expo opens in Lhasa