BBC News Top Stories-World Philippines accuses China of shooting water cannon at its boats
December 9, 2023 2 min 369 words
这则报道再次凸显了中菲在南海的领土争端，菲律宾指责中国使用水炮阻挠其船只，引发了强烈谴责。这是两国近期冲突的又一例，表明南海局势日益紧张。中国声称采取“控制措施”以应对菲方进入其领海，但菲律宾坚称中国的行为是非法和具有侵略性质的。此前，菲方指责中国“围攻”其海域，并计划向南海最大占领岛屿Thitu岛派遣圣诞礼物船队，进一步加剧了两国之间的紧张关系。在此背景下，菲律宾与美国、澳大利亚加强军事联合巡逻，显示了地区紧张局势的升级。中美在南海的角力也成为两国关系的敏感点，而国际仲裁庭对中国在南海的主张的否定也在事态中扮演关键角色。
Watch: Chinese ships "fire water at Philippine vessels"
The Philippines has accused China of using water cannons to obstruct three of its vessels, in the latest territorial dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea.
Video footage shows Chinese ships firing powerful blasts of water towards the Philippine government vessels.
The Philippines called China's actions "illegal and aggressive".
The South China Sea is at the centre of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and other countries.
The incident happened near Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint between the two countries. Beijing seized the shoal in 2012 and Chinese boats have since harassed Philippine fishermen in the area.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said that "Chinese Coast Guard ships utilised water cannons to obstruct" government vessels from delivering fuel and food supplies to fishing boats.
The agency said it "vehemently condemns the illegal and aggressive actions".
Beijing said it had used what it called "control measures" on ships that had intruded into its waters.
Earlier this week, the Philippines accused China of "swarming" a reef off its coast after more than 135 military boats were spotted in the South China Sea.
On Sunday, the Philippines plans to send a Christmas convoy of around 40 boats to distribute gifts and other provisions to people on Thitu island, the Philippines' largest occupied island in the South China Sea.
Friction between the two countries over competing sovereignty claims has increased since Ferdinand Marcos Jr became Philippine president last year.
Last month, the Philippines carried out two separate joint air and sea patrols with the US, and with Australia a few days earlier.
An international tribunal invalidated China's claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling and has been building islands in the disputed waters in recent years.
The contested waters have also become a naval flashpoint for China-US relations, and in October, US President Joe Biden warned that the US will defend the Philippines in case of any attack.
President Biden's comments were made days after two collisions between Filipino and Chinese vessels in the waters.
Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei also claim parts of the sea.