Chinese coast guard ships unleashed water cannons on two Philippine government fisheries vessels Friday near Scarborough Shoal, marking the third such confrontation this week as regional diplomats gathered in Manila to address escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
The incident occurred just seven meters—23 feet—from a Philippine fisheries vessel, creating what Manila called a serious risk of collision. The Philippine coast guard condemned what it described as dangerous and unprofessional actions, asserting that Scarborough Shoal is integral Philippine territory and its surrounding waters form part of the country's territorial sea and exclusive economic zone.
Beijing offered a sharply different account. The Chinese coast guard said multiple Philippine ships, including three coast guard vessels, gathered in the waters Friday, prompting verbal warnings, interception measures and water cannon deployment. "We sternly warn the Philippines to immediately cease its infringing and provocative actions or bear all consequences that may arise," China stated.
Diplomatic Talks Overshadowed
The high-seas confrontations dominated the agenda during three days of closed-door talks that started Tuesday in the Philippine capital, bringing together foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their Asian and Western counterparts. The ASEAN ministers discussed the South China Sea disputes Tuesday and issued a joint statement noting that concerns were expressed by some ministers on land reclamations, activities, serious incidents in the area—including actions that put the safety of all persons at risk—and damage to the marine environment.
China claims virtually the entire sea passage, a key global trade route, despite a 2016 arbitration ruling based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims. That ruling came 10 years ago. The convention itself dates back 44 years.
Recent Escalation
Friday's water cannon incident followed a more serious clash 5 days ago at the Second Thomas Shoal. Two Philippine sailors aboard a boat were injured after being hit by wooden poles by Chinese coast guard personnel in a separate boat, the Philippines said. China accused Philippine sailors of attacking the Chinese with oars and long sticks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, met Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN talks and discussed that Monday incident, calling it escalatory.
Code of Conduct Progress
The 11-nation regional bloc's top diplomats welcomed significant progress in negotiations with China on a code of conduct that aims to prevent a major armed confrontation in the disputed waters. They said they aim to conclude the negotiations this year.
The ministerial meetings concluded Friday with the commemoration of ASEAN's 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, a nonaggression pact that's now 50 years old. Philippine Foreign Sec. Theresa Lazaro said that in a time of global uncertainty, peace needs to be always defended. "Peace is a daily choice," Lazaro said. "It requires continuous labor, deliberate restraint, inclusive dialogue and an unyielding adherence to the rule of law."
The decades-long territorial standoffs show no signs of abating despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. Three confrontations in a single week—two at Scarborough Shoal and one at Second Thomas Shoal—underscore the fragility of the current situation and the challenges facing negotiators trying to establish binding rules of engagement.
Why This Matters:
The South China Sea carries roughly one-third of global maritime trade, making freedom of navigation through these waters a critical economic and security interest for nations far beyond the immediate region. China's willingness to use force—even as diplomats meet to discuss de-escalation—raises questions about Beijing's commitment to peaceful resolution and respect for international law. The 2016 arbitration ruling, which found no legal basis for China's expansive claims, has been systematically ignored by Beijing, setting a troubling precedent for how rising powers engage with established legal frameworks. For the Philippines, these aren't abstract diplomatic disputes—they're direct challenges to territorial sovereignty and the safety of Filipino fishermen operating in waters internationally recognized as within Manila's exclusive economic zone. The repeated confrontations test whether multilateral institutions like ASEAN can effectively constrain aggressive behavior or whether smaller nations will require bilateral security guarantees from major powers to defend their legitimate maritime rights.