The Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard vessels of firing a water cannon and sideswiping a government ship on Dec. 4, during a routine patrol near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

Video released online by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Jay Tarriela, shows a Chinese ship hitting the right side of the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a fisheries department vessel.

At around 6:30 a.m., the Chinese Coast Guard “fired a water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, aiming directly at the vessel’s navigational antennas,” Tarriela said on X.

A People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessel also undertook “reckless maneuvers” against multiple PGC ships. Tarriela said.

Writing on Weibo, China’s Coast Guard said the PCG “attempted to intrude into China’s territorial waters” and “dangerously approached the normal law enforcement patrol ships of the Chinese Coast Guard.”

Credit: Jay Tarriela via Storyful

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