South China Sea: Beijing and Manila trade blame on second day of Scarborough Shoal clashes
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- China and the Philippines clashed for a second day near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
- Both countries' coast guards accused each other of water cannon attacks and dangerous maneuvers.
- China has begun military drills in the South China Sea, which are scheduled to last until the end of the month.
China and the Philippines engaged in a second consecutive day of confrontations near the strategically important Scarborough Shoal. The dispute escalated as China initiated military drills in the South China Sea, set to continue through the end of the month.
On July 24, the China Coast Guard took control measures in accordance with the law toward multiple Philippine vessels engaged in illegal activities in waters under China’s jurisdiction off Huangyan Island.
The China Coast Guard stated it "took control measures in accordance with the law" against Philippine vessels involved in "illegal activities" in waters it claims as its own, referring to the shoal by its Chinese name, Huangyan Island. Conversely, the Philippine Coast Guard released video footage accusing the Chinese Coast Guard of employing "water cannon attacks and dangerous maneuvers" against their vessels.
a series of water cannon attacks and dangerous manoeuvres
As of Friday morning, a stand-off involving 10 Philippine ships and 15 Chinese vessels persisted in the area. The Philippine Coast Guard "strongly condemned the dangerous and unprofessional actions" of their Chinese counterparts. This marks the second day of escalating tensions in the waters surrounding the triangular reef formation.
The PCG [Philippine Coast Guard] strongly condemns the dangerous and unprofessional actions of the China Coast Guard.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by South China Morning Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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