Summary

The Philippines and China accused each other of aggressive actions in a confrontation near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

China claimed Philippine vessels entered its territorial waters, prompting “control measures,” while the Philippines accused China’s coast guard of firing water cannons at a government ship, releasing a video of the incident.

This clash follows rising tensions, including China’s recent declaration of territorial baselines around the shoal, which the Philippines disputes.

The shoal has been a flashpoint since China seized it in 2012, despite a 2016 arbitration ruling against Beijing’s broader claims.