China rammed, fired water cannon at Philippines’ ships

The Chinese military is nothing if not consistent. Vessels from the Chinese coast guard are harassing Filipino fishermen and marines in disputed waters in the South China Sea at a rate of about twice a month since August.

The Chinese ships are working to stop Filipino vessels from reaching destinations in the Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands. Both areas are within the Filipino exclusive economic zone, but China still claims it all as its own — including the Second Thomas Shoal, which Filipinos call the Ayungin Shoal.

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In 1999, the Philippines intentionally ran aground the BRP Sierra Madre at the shoal. The Sierra Madre is an old World War II era ship, and the heaping pile of rusting steel now serves as the physical embodiment of the Philippines’ claim to the region. The Philippines keeps a contingent of marines at the outpost — marines who need to be resupplied with food and other equipment. It’s these resupply missions that China is targeting.

In the last few months, the Philippines said Chinese vessels rammed civilian Filipino fishing boats and military craft. China is also accused of using high-grade lasers against Filipino ships and, most recently, employed a water cannon so powerful it disabled a Philippine coast guard vessel’s engine and almost caused the craft to capsize. China’s attempt to stop the resupply mission failed, though. Despite being rammed by a Chinese vessel, a Philippine ship managed to reach the Sierra Madre, where supplies were unloaded and marines rotated.

China claimed its ships warned the Philippine vessel several times that it was trespassing in Chinese waters without authorization. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea is now openly questioning whether China really has the goodwill or intention to resolve disputes diplomatically in the South China Sea.

The United Nations and most of the industrialized world said China’s territorial claims to the Second Thomas Shoal aren’t legal, binding or based in reality.

Over the last couple of decades, the People’s Republic of China committed itself to competing with the United States on the global stage, including militarily. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) — the official name of the Chinese navy — is now the world’s largest in terms of hulls. China wants to increase the PLAN’s area of influence or control around the world. To do that, the PLAN needs to first control the waters closest to home.

The Philippines does enjoy the benefits of a military defensive aid agreement with the United States. It means if the Chinese military launches an attack against the Philippines, the U.S. would be obligated to defend its ally.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.