China – Philippines Vessels Collide as Water Cannons Used on Supply Mission
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The Philippines\u2019 monthly supply mission to the disputed area in the South China Sea near the Scarborough Shoal resulted in another incident between the two countries, with accusations of illegal activity from both sides. While the versions of the incident differ, both sides highlighted the use of water cannons against one Filipino vessel, while China released video of the ship hitting one of its Coast Guard vessels.<\/p>\n
The Philippines Coast Guard and the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources highlighted it as a regular resupply mission to more than 35 Filipino fishing boats operating in the area around the shoal. At least three Coast Guard vessels, two bureau vessels with the supplies, and a government-owned fish processing vessel, Mamalakaya<\/em>, were on the mission. They were bringing essential fuel and ice to the fishermen, according to the Philippine authorities.<\/p>\n The Chinese broadcast announcements early this morning, September 16, of a live fire exercise in the region, and shortly after 0900 local time, the vessels began to interact. They were at various positions ranging between 17, 14, and 10 nautical miles from the shoal.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n CCG Employs Water Cannons Against BRP Datu Gumbay Piang<\/p>\n This morning, the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang (MMOV 3014), operated by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), was targeted by two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels while engaged in\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/bzVieZEoha<\/a><\/p>\n\n