UPDATE - China uses water cannons to deter Philippine vessels near disputed shoal

REVISES HEADLINE, ADDS OFFICIAL COMMENTS FROM MANILA AND BEIJING, EDITS THROUGHOUT​​​​​​​

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine vessels Tuesday near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing damage to both.

Beijing said the vessels “illegally intruded” in waters off Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal.

The Chinese vessels “harassed, blocked, water cannoned and rammed vessels” of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that were enroute to Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines refers to as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, said a statement by the National Task Force for the West Philippines Sea.

Manila identifies the South China Sea as the West Philippines Sea.

Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the PCG, said the Philippine vessels were planning to “conduct a regular humanitarian and assistance mission to Philippine fishing boats in and around the area.”

China and the Philippines have conflicting claims over the Second Thomas Shoal – also known as the Ayungin Shoal, Bai Co May and Ren'ai Jiao – which is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims vast maritime territory in the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, which The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said in 2016 has no legal basis under international law.

China says the ruling is not valid and has been in negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 2002 for a code of conduct for the disputed sea.

Vessels from China and the Philippines have collided several times in the recent past, including when Manila shipped supplies to a rusting World War II era warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, which Beijing wants the Philippines to remove.

A retired senior colonel of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Zhou Bo, told the South China Morning Post daily this week that Beijing had “never used force against the Philippines.”

“Yes, the Chinese coastguard used water cannons to dispel the Philippine coastguard, but I think that is deterrence, not a use of force,” he said.

China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its claims over the disputed island of Huangyan, saying it has “always been China’s territory.”

“The Philippine Coast Guard vessel and official vessel entered waters of Huangyan Dao without Chinese permission, which seriously infringed on China’s sovereignty,” said ministry spokesman Lin Jian.

In response to the Philippine vessels sailing in the disputed waters, Lin said “China’s coast guard took necessary measures to expel them in accordance with the law.”

“China urges the Philippines to stop making infringements and provocations at once and not to challenge China’s resolve to defend our sovereignty,” he added.

However, Tarriela said China’s “illegal and irresponsible behavior highlights their egregious disregard for the Philippines’ lawful exercise of its rights and entitlements in our own” exclusive economic zone.

“The Philippines will continue to act peacefully and responsibly, consistent with a rules-based international law, on the basis of UNCLOS and the valid and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” he said, adding that Manila “will not be deterred from pursuing legitimate and lawful activities in our maritime zones.”

Zhou recalled that it was Manila’s coast guard that had “used force to kill innocent Chinese fishermen from the mainland and Taiwan in 2000, 2006 and 2013.”

*Islamuddin Sajid contributed to the story from Pakistan