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China Fires Water Cannon at Philippine Vessel at Scarborough Shoal

China Fires Water Cannon at Philippine Vessel at Scarborough ShoalAI illustration

A Chinese coast guard ship fired a water cannon at a Philippine government ship near Scarborough Shoal on Thursday, keeping up the blast for more than two minutes, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

A second Chinese ship blocked a Philippine ship carrying fuel and food to Filipino fishers at the shoal. Manila called it a dangerous maneuver. The Philippine Coast Guard said both actions violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. No injuries. No damage confirmed.

The standoff happened a few hours before Manila hosted a regional security forum. Top diplomats from both China and the United States attended. The Philippines and China had been in talks about a possible reset in bilateral ties, according to BusinessWorld Online.

Scarborough Shoal sits in the South China Sea. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela announced the incidents on Thursday.

17 Jul – 23 Jul 2026

China Fires Water Cannon at Philippine Vessel at Scarborough Shoal

Interest over time · Scarborough Shoal
07/1707/2007/23

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