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.
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Prince Harry's army friend JJ Chalmers urges Kate to talk about cancer
Alabama sets July execution date for man convicted of killing delivery driver
Paris crowns a new king of the crusty baguette in its annual bread
Jensen Ackles to play Justin Hartley's brother in CBS series Tracker
‘Kraven the Hunter’ release delayed until December
Why they call Ryan Giggs 'the Welsh Wanderer': Football ace had eight
Allergies can make you miserable. Here's how to track pollen levels near you
G7 nations commit to phasing out coal by 2035 but give Japan some flexibility
Hush money trial: Trump's lawyers will grill tabloid publisher David Pecker
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: A very good day for our united kingdom
Candice Swanepoel and Kate Upton show off their long legs as they pose up a storm on Segways in high