The Philippines on Friday accused the Chinese coats guard (CCG) of firing water cannon to a Filipino boat carrying supplies in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippines' National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, in a statement, said that CCG and other vessels "recklessly harassed, blocked, executed dangerous maneuvers" as they tried to "illegally impede or obstruct a routine resupply" of Filipino troops stationed in BRP Sierra Madre.
"CCG vessel 5203 deployed water cannon against Philippine supply vessel M/L Kalayaan in an illegal though unsuccessful attempt to force the latter to alter course," the statement read.
"We condemn, once again, China's latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission," it added.
Following the incident, the task force said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that the Philippine Embassy in Beijing lodged, again, a diplomatic protest against China over the said action.
"We firmly insist that Chinese vessels responsible for these illegal activities leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately," NTF-WPS said.
"The systematic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue."
Stop infringing China's sovereignty
China, in response, urged the Philippines to stop infringing on the country's sovereignty after several Philippine resupply vessels entered into waters near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
"The Philippines' actions infringe on China's territorial sovereignty," China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said.
"We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its infringing actions."
