Philippines says fishermen injured by Chinese coast guard water cannons

Sugar Coast guard ships used powerful water cannons and interception maneuvers against 20 Philippine fishing boats near the disputed South China Sea coast, injuring three Filipinos and damaging two of their boats, the Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday.

Chinese coast guard personnel aboard small rubber boats later deliberately cut the anchor lines of several Philippine boats near Sabina Shoal on Friday afternoon, “putting the vessels and their crews in danger amid strong currents and high waves,” the coast guard said.

Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the latest reports of long-unresolved territorial disputes in the South China Sea, but they have vowed to defend the areas they claim at all costs.

The South China Sea, a major global trade route, is claimed by China in virtually its entirety despite a 2016 arbitration ruling. BeijingThe blanket claim based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is invalid. China rejected this decision as a sham and continues to ignore it.

Two Philippine coast guard ships were deployed to help the Filipinos near Sabina, but faced dangerous interception maneuvers by the Chinese coast guard. One The Chinese vessels came as close as 35 yards (105 feet) to one of the Philippine vessels during the night, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriella said in an online news briefing.

“The Chinese coast guard is now targeting ordinary fishermen, ordinary civilians, and they are endangering the lives of Filipino fishermen,” Tariela said.

“Despite these unprofessional and unlawful interventions, the Philippine Coast Guard successfully reached the fishermen this morning and provided essential supplies as well as immediate medical aid to the injured,” the Philippine Coast Guard said on Saturday.

The Philippine Coast Guard called on the Chinese Coast Guard to “adhere to internationally recognized standards of conduct, prioritizing the preservation of life at sea rather than showmanship of law enforcement that endangers the lives of innocent fishermen.”

United States of America It has no claims to the South China Sea but has repeatedly warned that it is obliged to defend it philippinesits oldest treaty ally AsiaIf there is an armed attack on Filipino forces, including coast guard personnel, ships and aircraft, including in disputed waters.

vietnam, malaysia, brunei And taiwan Territorial disputes are also involved, which have long been considered an Asian flashpoint.