Mar 24, 2024, 06:28PM ISTSource: TOI.in
Tensions escalated as the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against Philippine vessels near the disputed Spratly Islands and Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine military released footage of the hour-long attack, prompting strong condemnation from the U.S., which criticized China’s disruptive maneuvers. China claimed to have expelled three Philippine ships for illegal intrusion, but the Philippines denounced these actions as irresponsible and provocative. This incident marks the second time in March alone that the Chinese Coast Guard has damaged the UM4 ship. The shoal, occupied by Philippine forces since 1999, has become a focal point of territorial disputes, with China asserting claims over the entire South China Sea.