The State Department has stated that the United States stands with the Philippines after the treaty ally’s fishing boats were hit with water cannons by Chinese forces in the South China Sea last week. The incident underscores ongoing maritime disputes between Manila and Beijing that remain unresolved.
The Philippine coast guard reported that three fishermen were injured and two fishing boats sustained significant damage from high-pressure water cannon blasts while operating lawfully at Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, on Friday.
The Chinese coast guard accused Philippine vessels of conducting provocative acts in waters near the atoll, which Chinaclaims as Xianbin Jiao, despite repeated warnings. Beijing stated that necessary control measures were taken to drive multiple groups of vessels away.
Regional context
Citing what it calls historic rights—which The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 had no legal basis—China has asserted sweeping sovereignty claims over the South China Sea that overlap with those of other countries in the contested region. This includes the Philippines, a signatory to a US mutual defense treaty.
As part of efforts to support its territorial claims, China maintains a strong presence of naval and coast guard forces in the South China Sea. The US and its allies and partners view this as an attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo. In response, the Philippines has regularly carried out joint patrols with American and partner forces.
Details of the incident
Jay Tarriela, a spokesperson for the Philippine coast guard, released footage on X showing the moment the Chinese coast guard targeted 20 Philippine fishing boats with water cannons and conducted dangerous blocking maneuvers.
The Philippine official also accused the Chinese coast guard of deliberately cutting the anchor lines of fishing boats, which he described as a brazen escalation that put the vessels and their crews in danger due to strong currents and high waves.
In response, the Philippine coast guard deployed two multirole response vessels near Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea to provide critical support to fishermen harassed by the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia, Tarriela stated.
The West Philippine Sea is a term used by the Philippines to refer to the portion of the South China Sea that lies within its exclusive economic zone—a maritime area that extends up to 230 miles from the coast, where it has sole rights to natural resources.
Official statements
Liu Dejun, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson, stated that the Philippine vessels sailed near the atoll under the pretense of fishing and that the response by Beijing’s forces at the scene was in accordance with the law and relevant rules, without further elaboration.
China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao—commonly known as the Spratly Islands—including Xianbin Jiao and its adjacent waters, Liu added. He stated that the China Coast Guard will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement operations in waters under China’s jurisdiction to firmly safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, stated that the United States condemns China’s water cannoning and cutting of anchor lines of Filipino fishers close to Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. These aggressive actions endangered Filipinos fishing for their livelihoods, Pigott said. He added that the US stands with Philippine allies as they confront China’s provocative actions and increasingly dangerous tactics against its neighbors, which undermine regional stability.
Jay Tarriela emphasized the importance of defending the West Philippine Sea for ordinary Filipino fishermen and the resources of the nation’s seas against China’s presence in the area.
Looking ahead
China is expected to reinforce its presence in disputed waters in the South China Sea. It remains to be seen whether the US will soon conduct another joint patrol with the Philippines to signal its resolve and commitment to defending the ally against threats.
