MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine patrol vessels Tuesday near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, causing minor damage to one vessel, in the latest flareup in an increasingly tense territorial conflict.
There were no immediate reports of injuries in the incident off Scarborough Shoal, one of two hotly disputed areas where confrontations between China and the Philippines have flared on and off since last year.
A Philippine coast guard ship and an accompanying fisheries vessel were patrolling the waters off Scarborough Shoal when four Chinese coast guard ships, backed by six suspected militia ships, executed dangerous blocking maneuvers, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
A Chinese coast guard ship used a water cannon against the fisheries vessel, the BRP Bankaw, and two other Chinese coast guard ships hit the Philippine coast guard ship, the BRP Bagacay, simultaneously from both sides, damaging part of its deck railing and a canopy, Tarriela said.
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
Taylor Swift sends secret message to Travis Kelce in So High School's lyric video
U.S. votes against Palestinian request for full UN membership at Security Council
UN calls for more support as gang violence escalates in Haiti
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
Inside Tori Spelling's VERY youthful skater girl makeover following divorce from Dean McDermott
Tomas Totland scores first MLS goal in stoppage time, St. Louis plays Sporting KC to 3
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
Jeremy Clarkson leads emotional tributes as BBC Top Gear legend dies aged 80
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
De La Cruz homers in the 9th inning as the Marlins beat the Cubs 3