Two Chinese Coast Guard ships fired water cannons at a ship chartered by the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea, damaging the ship's windshield and injuring four people on board.
The Philippine ships were carrying supplies to units stationed on the warship stranded in the Second Thomas Reef area in the Spratly Islands when it collided with a Chinese ship. According to the Philippines, the incident is another attempt by Beijing to prevent its ships from reaching the garrison Kyodo News Based on reports received from the authorities.
One of the two Chinese Coast Guard ships also collided with a Philippine Coast Guard ship. While the Navy charter ship returned to Palawan Island in the western Philippines, another ship carrying supplies arrived at the site.
Beijing said later on Tuesday that it had lodged a protest with Manila over the incidents, saying the four Philippine ships entered the waters near the reef without the approval of the Chinese government.
The Chinese Coast Guard claims that a Philippine Coast Guard vessel intentionally collided with its vessel, and it must bear full responsibility for that. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Naing said Beijing calls on Manila to stop provocations and refrain from taking steps to complicate the situation.
The last time the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against Philippine ships was last December. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea.
In a 2016 ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China's sweeping claim to the resource-rich sea. However, Beijing rejected the decision.
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