Philippines accuses Chinese coast guard of spraying water cannon at supply ship

The Philippines says Chinese coast guard used water cannons to impede one of its supply ships near Second Thomas Shoal, damaging it.

The Philippine military released video today showing two white Chinese Coast Guard vessels repeatedly firing water cannons at a ship sailing alongside. Another video shows a white ship with the words “China Coast Guard” written on it crossing the gray bow of a ship identified as the Philippine supply ship Unaizah May 4 (UM4).

Chinese Coast Guard sprays water cannon at Philippine relief ship

A Chinese coast guard ship sprayed a water cannon at a Philippine supply ship near Second Thomas Shoal on the morning of March 23. Video: Philippine Coast Guard

According to the Philippine military, the Chinese coast guard's actions lasted nearly an hour off the coast of Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on the morning of March 23, when the UM4 ship was on its way to supply the garrison at Second Thomas Shoal.

"The supply ship UM4 was severely damaged at 8:52 am due to continuous water cannon fire from the Chinese coast guard ship," the Philippine military said, adding that UM4 and a Philippine coast guard escort ship were still able to transfer cargo and six navy personnel to take shifts at the Philippine outpost at Second Thomas Shoal.

The military also released video taken later showing Chinese ships deploying "floating buoys to prevent ships from approaching the shoal".

The incident occurred while UM4 was being escorted by two coast guard vessels and two navy ships, according to Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard. The Philippine Coast Guard escort ship BRP Cabra was then "obstructed and surrounded" by three coast guard vessels and other Chinese ships, causing it to be separated from the supply vessel.

Meanwhile, Chinese coast guard spokesman Gan Yu said the Philippine vessels had "intruded into the area, despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side" and were "controlled, obstructed and driven away" by Chinese forces.

The supply ship UM4 was damaged by a water cannon fired by the Chinese Coast Guard in the same area on March 5. Four crew members of UM4 were also injured.

The Philippine military has used the decrepit warship BRP Sierra Madre, which ran aground at Second Thomas Shoal, as an outpost to maintain its presence in the area since 1999. It has a marine unit stationed on board and is completely dependent on supplies from the mainland.

China and the Philippines have been engaged in a series of confrontations recently near the Second Thomas Shoal. Chinese vessels have frequently fired water cannons and rammed Philippine vessels to prevent Manila from resupplying its garrison at BRP Sierra Madre.

Huyen Le (According to AFP )

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