Chinese coast guard vessels used high-pressure water cannons and rammed an anchored Philippine government ship off a Philippine-held island in the South China Sea on Sunday, slightly damaging the vessel but causing no injuries, the Philippine coast guard said.

The incident took place near Thitu Island — locally known as Pag-asa — where Filipino civilians and troops are stationed. The targeted vessel, BRP Datu Pagbuaya, is part of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources fleet that supports local fishermen.

Two other Philippine fisheries vessels were also blasted with water cannons during the confrontation, about 1.6 nautical miles (nearly 3 kilometers) from Thitu. No one was hurt and no major damage was reported, coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela told reporters Monday.

According to Tarriela, a Chinese coast guard vessel with bow number 21559 first fired its water cannon at Datu Pagbuaya, striking the ship and its flags before ramming its stern three minutes later. The collision caused minor structural damage but left the Filipino crew unharmed.

Video released by Manila shows the Chinese ship firing water cannons as the Philippine vessel attempts to move away. Tarriela condemned the actions as “bullying tactics,” adding, “We will not be intimidated or driven away. The Philippines will not surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power.”

Tensions rise after Chinese and Philippine ships collide near disputed South China Sea shoal

In Beijing, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said the Philippine ships “illegally entered” waters near Sandy Cay — which China calls Tiexian Reef — and ignored repeated warnings. He said one Philippine vessel “dangerously approached” a Chinese ship, causing a scrape, and blamed the Philippines for “undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

The U.S. condemned what it described as “China’s aggressive actions in defiance of international law” and reaffirmed its support for Manila, a treaty ally. U.S. Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson commended the Filipino crew for their “tremendous valor and skill in the face of China’s dangerous ramming and use of water cannons.”

Philippine coast guard commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the latest incident would only strengthen the country’s determination to safeguard its waters. “Filipino fisherfolk depend on these seas, and neither water cannons nor ramming will stop us from protecting our territory,” he said.

Thitu is the largest of nine features occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands, one of the most hotly contested areas in the South China Sea. China, which claims nearly the entire sea despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling rejecting its claims, has built and fortified seven artificial islands in the region, including Subi Reef, located just over 20 kilometers from Thitu.

Source: AP