Overview

• China’s coast guard said it fired water cannons and imposed control measures on more than 10 Philippine government vessels near Scarborough Shoal, alleging one ship deliberately rammed a Chinese cutter.
• The Philippine Coast Guard reported a 29‑minute water cannon attack that damaged the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang during a resupply for Filipino fishermen, saying one crewmember was injured by shattered glass and rejecting China’s collision claim as disinformation.
• The confrontation came six days after Beijing announced a roughly 3,500‑hectare national nature reserve at the shoal, a step Manila formally protested and analysts warned could be used to justify tighter Chinese enforcement.
• China’s PLA Southern Theater Command recently declared it conducted routine patrols and warned the Philippines to stop provoking incidents following trilateral naval drills by the Philippines, the United States and Japan in the Philippine EEZ.
• The United States condemned the nature‑reserve plan and voiced support for the Philippines, with the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada also expressing concern over Beijing’s move.