South China Sea: China Coast Guard uses water cannon to expel Philippine vessel from shoal
China says its coastguard used a water cannon in an effort to expel a Philippine government vessel that entered waters of the disputed
Scarborough Shoal in Beijing's latest confrontation with Manila in the disputed
South China Sea
China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said in a statement on Friday afternoon that Philippine vessel 3006 had 'ignored repeated warnings and insistently intruded' into Chinese waters near the strategic shoal.
In response, China Coast Guard had implemented standard enforcement measures, including verbal warnings, close monitoring and water cannons to drive away the unauthorised ship, Liu said.
01:25
Chinese military helicopter and Philippine patrol plane in close encounter over Scarborough Shoal
Chinese military helicopter and Philippine patrol plane in close encounter over Scarborough Shoal
'The Philippine side's actions constitute a serious violation of China's sovereignty and international law,' Liu said, adding that the Chinese side's response was 'professional, lawful and justified' under China's Coast Guard Law and related regulations.
Manila has not commented on any incident at Scarborough Shoal or China's statement.
The confrontation came a day after China accused the Philippines of 'illegally' operating in waters near the disputed Half Moon and Royal Captain shoals.
In a late night statement on Thursday, Liu said China's coastguard had 'handled the situation in accordance with the law and regulations, with the on-site operations conducted in a professional and standardised manner'.
'The Philippine government vessels, under the pretext of so-called fishery protection, have illegally infringed upon China's rights and provocatively undermined stability in the South China Sea,' the statement said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
25 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Facing multiple crises, China is stressing resilient governance over ideology
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently commemorated the 120th birth anniversary of Chen Yun, one of the foundational economic planners of the Communist Party of China. Amid the commemoration's celebratory tone, Xi's speech signals a rhetorical shift. The references to communist conviction so prominent in the 2015 address delivered for Chen's 110th birthday were relatively sparse in Xi's remarks from earlier this month. Instead, there was polished language relating to development planning and political resilience. In 2015, Xi's speech commemorating Chen Yun's 110th birthday emphasised unwavering faith in Marxism and communism. Xi also spoke of Chen as a disciplined party member. The between-the-lines message was clear: ideology was to be re-centred as the Communist Party's main source of legitimacy during Xi's first term. This year, Xi portrayed Chen as a model of disciplined governance, praising his ability to grasp key points, set aside time to consider strategic issues and simultaneously balance state-led and market approaches to economic planning. Xi highlighted Chen's 15-character maxim – 'not following superiors and not following books but instead following facts while exchanging, comparing and repeating' – offering it as a guide for cadres navigating today's volatile world. The symbolism is clear: Chen was not just a revolutionary elder but a technocrat who embraced policy logic in uncertain times.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Xia Baolong holds closed-door talks with Hong Kong business leaders during visit
Beijing's top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs held a three-hour closed-door face-to-face discussion with local tycoons and business leaders during the third day of his inspection trip to the city on Friday. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, reportedly visited Ocean Park in the afternoon before checking out Lamma Island. The exchanges on Friday morning, held at the government headquarters in Admiralty, marked the first time since last November that Xia had direct talks with local business elites in Shenzhen. Tycoons at the meeting included Peter Lee Ka-kit, chairman and managing director of Henderson Land Development; Gordon Wu Ying-sheung, chairman of Hopewell Holdings; Stephen Ng Tin-hoi, chairman and managing director of the Wharf Holdings; and Sonia Cheng Chi-man, executive director of New World Development. Wingco Lo Kam-wing, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, and Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, were also among those seen streaming into the venue. Financial sector elite, including Carlson Tong Ka-shing, chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, and Haywood Cheung Tak-hay, chairman of Hong Kong Gold Exchange, also showed up.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese and EU trade officials hold talks after von der Leyen outburst
Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao and European trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic held a video call on Thursday, as the two sides strive to keep a lid on simmering economic tensions and pave the way for a leaders' summit in Beijing. Advertisement 'Both sides agreed to work together to lay the groundwork for key economic and trade items on the China-EU agenda this year,' the Ministry of Commerce said in an online statement released on Friday. The two officials discussed a series of topics during the call, including export controls, market access, and the European Union's tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles , it added. The call came just days after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a hawkish critique of China during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada on Monday. During a session on the global economy at the G7 summit, which was also attended by US President Donald Trump, von der Leyen accused Beijing of offering 'massive subsidies with the aim to dominate manufacturing and supply chains', calling it a 'distortion with intent'. Advertisement She also raised concerns over China's industrial overcapacity and accused Beijing of 'weaponising' its dominant position in the rare earth supply chain to 'undermine competitors in key industries'.
