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.
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
Georgian parliament holds third and final reading of divisive bill on foreign influence
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Sarah Ferguson is in the pink with traditional German wedding frock
Kate Moss is joined by model daughter Lila, Dua Lipa and Daisy Edgar
Rishi Sunak to apologise for worst treatment disaster in NHS history
Austrian court says convicted rapist Josef Fritzl can be moved to prison from psychiatric detention
Japan's Sony reports surge in profit on strong sales of movies, games and music
Cannes 2024: Studio Ghibli takes a bow with an honorary Palme d'Or
A monarchy reform activist in Thailand dies in detention after a monthslong hunger strike