Chinese fleet surrounds Philippine vessels in South China Sea

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA — A FLEET OF CHINESE VESSELS SURROUNDED A PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD SHIP TUESDAY MORNING – AND BECAME AGGRESSIVE.

REPORTERS FOR CNN AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL WERE ON BOARD A PHILIPPINES SHIP – IT WAS THE FIRST TIME FOREIGN JOURNALISTS HAD BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE MISSION.

THE REPORTERS WITNESSED A CHINESE BOAT BLASTING THE PHILIPPINES BOAT WITH A WATER CANNON – SHATTERING A WINDOW OF THE PHILIPPINES SHIP.

FOUR FILIPINO COAST GUARDSMEN WERE INJURED IN THE ATTACK.

THE PHILIPPINES VESSEL WAS ON A RESUPPLY MISSION TO THEIR TROOPS IN SECOND THOMAS SHOAL – WITH 3 OTHER VESSELS – AND THE CHINESE SUCCESSFULLY SEPARATED THE SHIPS – ALLOWING ONLY ONE PHILIPPINES BOAT TO DELIVER ITS CARGO.

THE PHILIPPINES ALSO ACCUSE A CHINESE COAST GUARD SHIP OF BRUSHING UP AGAINST TWO OF THEIR VESSELS.

SECOND THOMAS SHOAL HOLDS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES IN ASSERTING ITS CLAIMS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, REFLECTING THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL IN THE REGION.

THE U.S. CONDEMNED CHINA’S ACTIONS AND BACKED THE PHILIPPINES, WHILE CHINA CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE AND ACCUSED THE PHILIPPINES OF INTRUDING INTO ITS WATERS.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PHILIPPINES COAST GUARD TOLD THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: THE FACT THAT EVEN A SINGLE BOAT MANAGED TO MAKE IT PAST THE CHINESE FLEET MADE IT A “VERY SUCCESSFUL MISSION.”