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3h ago

Philippines Condemns China's Water Cannon and Sideswipe Incident at Sandy Cay

The May 21 confrontation marks the first use of water cannons by China near Sandy Cay, escalating tensions over disputed South China Sea territories.

Image
This screen capture shows a Chinese coast guard ship cutting across the bow of a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel and deploying its water cannon near Sandy Cay, a disputed feature in the South China Sea.

Overview

  • The China Coast Guard used water cannons and sideswiped the Philippine vessel BRP Datu Sanday during a marine research mission near Sandy Cay on May 21, 2025.
  • This is the first recorded incident involving water cannons against Philippine vessels in the Sandy Cay area, according to Manila's fisheries bureau.
  • The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources condemned the actions as aggressive, dangerous, and illegal, citing risks to civilian personnel aboard the ship.
  • China’s foreign ministry stated it was unaware of the incident but maintained the Coast Guard operates in accordance with Chinese laws in its claimed waters.
  • The incident underscores ongoing disputes over sovereignty in the South China Sea, where China’s sweeping claims were invalidated by a 2016 international tribunal ruling that Beijing continues to reject.