South China Sea: Philippines accuses Beijing of damaging supply vessel with water cannon
- Video clips of the attack near Second Thomas Shoal showed a white ship repeatedly dousing another vessel sailing alongside it with a water cannon
- Beijing said the Philippine convoy ‘forcibly intruded into the area despite the Chinese side’s repeated warnings and route controls’
The Philippine military said the nearly hour-long attack occurred off Second Thomas Shoal, where Chinese ships have unleashed water cannon and collided with Filipino vessels in similar stand-offs in recent months.
The military released video clips that showed a white ship repeatedly dousing another vessel sailing alongside it with a water cannon. One clip showed two white ships simultaneously firing water at the same vessel.
It also released another clip showing a white ship marked “China coastguard” crossing the bow of a grey vessel it identified as the Philippine supply boat Unaizah May 4.
It said the videos were taken on Saturday morning while the Unaizah May 4 was on its way to Ayungin Shoal – the Filipino name for the outcrop garrisoned by a small unit of Philippine troops that is also claimed by Beijing.
“The UM4 supply boat sustained heavy damages at around 08:52 (am) due to the continued blasting of water cannons from the CCG vessels,” the military said in a statement, without describing the nature of the damage or whether there were any casualties.
