Philippine and Chinese vessels collided Tuesday near a disputed South China Sea shoal, where Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons as tensions escalate over the rivals’ long-running maritime dispute.
The China Coast Guard accused Manila of illegally intruding into its territorial waters as more than 10 Philippine vessels sailed near Scarborough Shoal, known in China as Huangyan Island. Beijing said one Philippine government ship ignored repeated warnings and at around 10 a.m. “deliberately rammed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel,” prompting it to take enforcement measures.