Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons at a Philippine government fisheries ship near Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, marking the third confrontation between the two nations in the South China Sea this week. The Philippine coast guard said the water cannons struck the vessel indirectly, with no injuries reported. Beijing said two Philippine ships had trespassed into waters near the shoal and were driven away.
The incident came days after a clash at Second Thomas Shoal on July 20 left two Filipino soldiers injured. Philippine Foreign Secretary Lazaro protested China's actions during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. Wang warned Manila it would bear consequences if it provoked trouble with outside powers.
The Philippine foreign ministry rejected Beijing's claim that Manila violated a temporary arrangement governing resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era landing ship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal since 1999. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also attending the ASEAN meeting, called China's actions disturbing and pledged support for the Philippines.