US State Department: China used water cannons vs Philippine ships again

US State Department logo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The US State Department said Tuesday that China fired water cannons at Philippine vessels in the latest Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal incident.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said this is aside from China’s ramming and towing of damaged Philippine vessels during a resupply mission for the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on  Monday, June 17.

Philippine authorities, however, have yet to confirm the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) latest use of water cannons against Philippine vessels.

“PRC vessels’ dangerous and deliberate use of water cannons, ramming, blocking maneuvers, and towing damaged Philippine vessels, endangered the lives of Philippine service members, is reckless, and threatens regional peace and stability,” Miller said in a statement.

READ: China’s ‘dangerous actions threatened regional peace, stability’ – execs

Miller also said Washington reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of the Philippine Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.

China has been claiming ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

West Philippine Sea monitor and Sealight director Ray Powell on Monday said the CCG might have used water cannons against Philippine vessel.

READ: China Coast Guard boarded PH ships during Ayungin mission – report

The CCG said also on Monday that its vessel took “control measures” against the Filipino resupply boat for entering the waters off Ayungin Shoal at 5:59 a.m. on June 17, causing a collision between the two ships.

Ayungin Shoal is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“Control measures, when the CCG uses these terms, often means water cannons,” Powell told reporters in an online interview.