Philippines says China used water cannons on vessels for second day

Manila – The Philippine Coast Guard reported that a flotilla of twelve China Coast Guard vessels and three Chinese maritime militia ships took part in a maritime encounter off the Philippines’ western coast on Thursday. The agency said the Chinese vessels entered waters that Manila considers part of its exclusive economic zone, prompting the coast guard to issue warnings and document the incident for further diplomatic review.

The presence of the Chinese fleet underscores the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where overlapping claims have led to frequent confrontations between Manila and Beijing. Officials from the Philippine government have affirmed that they will continue to monitor the situation closely and pursue diplomatic channels to address any violations of international maritime law. No injuries or damages were reported, and both sides are expected to engage in dialogue to de‑escalate the episode.