MANILA, Philippines (AP) \u2014 Chinese coast guard ships used powerful water cannons on Sunday and rammed and slightly damaged an anchored Philippine government vessel off an island inhabited by Filipinos in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine coast guard said.<\/p>\n
There were no injuries among Filipino crewmen of the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, part of the fisheries fleet that provides support to Filipino fishermen. The Chinese coast guard targeted Pagbuaya off the Philippines-occupied Thitu island<\/a> in the latest flare-up of the long-simmering territorial disputes involving Manila, Beijing and four other governments.<\/p>\n Two other Philippine fisheries vessels were targeted with water cannons in Sunday\u2019s faceoff, which occurred at least 1.6 nautical miles (nearly 3 kilometers) from Thitu island. There were no damages or injuries, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a news briefing on Monday.<\/p>\n The Chinese coast guard accused the Philippine vessels of illegally entering what it called Chinese waters near a cluster of sandbars known as Sandy Cay, which lies between Thitu and China\u2019s artificial island base called Subi and \u201cignoring repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side.\u201d It said it \u201ctook control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law and resolutely drove them away.\u201d<\/p>\n China has repeatedly restated its sovereignty and control over virtually the entire South China Sea, a major trade route, despite a 2016 arbitration ruling<\/a> that invalidated its historic claims. That ruling has been rejected by China but supported by the United States<\/a> and its Western and Asian allies, including Japan, Australia, the European Union and Canada.<\/p>\n The U.S. immediately condemned \u201cChina\u2019s aggressive actions in defiance of international law\u201d and expressed support for the Philippines, a close Asian treaty ally. U.S. Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson praised the Filipino personnel involved in the incident for their \u201ctremendous valor and skill in the face of China\u2019s dangerous ramming and use of water cannons.\u201d<\/p>\n Pagbuaya and two other Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels were anchored in the territorial waters off Thitu, called Pag-asa by the Philippines, when Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships suddenly approached and staged \u201cdangerous and provocative maneuvers,\u201d Tarriela said on Sunday. He added that such aggression would not prompt Manila to \u201csurrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power.\u201d<\/p>\n A Chinese coast guard ship with bow number 21559 \u201cfired its water cannon directly at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, hitting the vessel,\u201d then rammed the stern of the Philippine fisheries vessel three minutes later, causing \u201cminor structural damage but no injuries to the crew.\u201d<\/p>\n Video issued by the Philippine coast guard shows a Chinese coast guard ship firing a water cannon, hitting the vessel and its two Philippine flags. The Filipino-manned ship is seen moving away from the Chinese coast guard ship.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions, the Philippine coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources remain resolute,\u201d Tarriela said. \u201cWe will not be intimidated or driven away.\u201d<\/p>\n In Beijing, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said in a statement the two Philippine vessels illegally entered waters near Sandy Cay, which China calls Tiexian Reef, \u201cwithout the permission of the Chinese government.\u201d One dangerously approached the Chinese Coast Guard vessel, causing a scrape, he said.<\/p>\n The responsibility rests entirely with the Philippine side, Liu said, accusing the Philippines of undermining the peace and stability in the South China Sea and \u201dsternly warned\u201d the Southeast Asian country \u201cto immediately stop infringement and harassment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe harassment we faced today only strengthens our resolve,\u201d Philippine coast guard commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said. \u201cFilipino fisherfolk depend on these waters and neither water cannons nor ramming will deter us from fulfilling our commitment to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos to not surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power.\u201d<\/p>\n