The Philippine Coast Guard has accused its Chinese counterpart of stopping its ships in the disputed South China Sea and firing water cannons at them.
It said that this incident occurred as its ship escorted boats carrying supplies for Filipino military stationed on a disputed Spratly Island.
The US condemned Beijing’s “dangerous actions”, also blaming Chinese “maritime militia” for the incident.
Regarding the alleged incident, China has not made any public comments.
The Spratly Islands, which are also partially claimed by the Philippines, are included in Beijing’s almost total claim to the South China Sea.
Additionally, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan have countervailing claims.
The incident took place on Saturday while PCG vessels were traveling to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, according to a statement.
It added that the actions taken by China were “excessive and unlawful” and that they also broke international law.
The US Department of State has stated that “our Philippine allies” have its support.
“Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking manoeuvres, PRC [China’s] ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardised the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew,” the department said in a statement.
China has disregarded the ruling of an international arbitration court, which declared its claim to almost the entire South China Sea as unfounded.
In April, a BBC team aboard a PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) ship witnessed firsthand instances of Chinese harassment.
The South China Sea has become a major global hotspot, particularly amid escalating tensions between the United States and China in recent years.
The strategic access to these waters plays a crucial role in defending Taiwan, especially as China’s claims over the self-governed island have become more assertive.
Moreover, the waterways facilitate approximately $5tn (£4tn) of global trade each year, leading to concerns that China’s expanding presence in the region could potentially impede commerce.