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.
Auburn running back Brian Battie on ventilator after weekend shooting in Florida, coach says
Nicola Peltz breaks her social media silence after missing out on mother
Vice President Harris announces final rules mandating minimum standards for nursing home staffing
Victoria Beckham and her lookalike sister Louise Adams pose arm
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
I'm an American and I tried a Tesco meal deal for the first time
Joy Corrigan goes braless under a stunning long lacy pink cardigan and white knee
Police in Greece raid homes and detain dozens in crackdown on deadly soccer violence
Sarah Jessica Parker divides opinion with enormous hat on set of And Just Like That
Yoko Ono to receive Edward MacDowell Medal for lifetime achievement
Strictly star Nadiya Bychkova reveals she doesn't know if she's on the show's 2024 line
Heavy rainstorms kill 4 people in southern China. Ten others are missing