MANILA (Realist English). The Philippines accused Chinese maritime forces on Sunday of using water cannons and ramming a Filipino vessel near Thitu Island — known locally as Pag-asa Island — in what officials described as a “clear threat” and an escalation of tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), three Filipino vessels — including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya — were anchored near Thitu as part of a government mission to support and protect local fishermen when Chinese coast guard ships approached and began using water cannons to intimidate them.
An hour later, a Chinese vessel allegedly fired its water cannon directly at the Datu Pagbuaya and rammed its stern, causing minor damage but no injuries, the PCG said in a statement.
“This reckless and aggressive act is a clear threat to the safety of our personnel and fishermen,” a PCG spokesperson said.
The coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources pledged to continue their operations, emphasizing that maintaining a presence near Thitu Island is “essential for safeguarding the livelihoods and security of Filipino fishermen.”
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately comment on the incident.
The confrontation comes amid mounting friction between Manila and Beijing over contested reefs and shoals, including the Scarborough Shoal, a key fishing ground long claimed by both nations.
China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a crucial waterway for more than $3 trillion in annual trade, overlapping with claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
The latest encounter adds to a series of maritime run-ins this year, heightening fears that the long-simmering dispute could spiral into a wider regional confrontation.
