China’s Coast Guard fired water cannons at a Philippine research vessel near the disputed Sandy Cay reef, causing damage and drawing international condemnation as tensions escalate in the South China Sea.
At a Glance
- The Philippines’ fisheries bureau accused China’s coastguard of firing water cannon and sideswiping the Filipino government vessel Datu Sanday near the Spratly Islands
- The Philippine ship sustained damage to its port bow and smokestack during the scientific research mission
- This marks the first recorded use of water cannon against Philippine vessels near the disputed Sandy Cay reef
- Multiple nations including the US, Japan, EU, Australia, and Canada have condemned China’s actions as reckless and dangerous
- China claims the Filipino vessel “illegally intruded” into waters they claim as sovereign territory despite a 2016 international ruling rejecting their claims
Philippine Vessel Attacked During Research Mission
The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has formally condemned what it termed “aggressive interference” by the Chinese coastguard after an incident in the disputed South China Sea. The Filipino vessel Datu Sanday, engaged in a marine scientific research initiative near sandbanks in the Spratly Islands, was reportedly fired upon with water cannons and sideswiped by Chinese vessels. The encounter resulted in significant damage to the Philippine ship’s port bow and smokestack, potentially endangering the crew members onboard and marking a serious escalation in maritime tensions between the two nations.
Despite the confrontation, the Philippine scientific team demonstrated remarkable resolve by completing their planned operations in the Pag-Asa Cays. This area has become increasingly contentious, with Sandy Cay emerging as a particular flashpoint in the broader territorial disputes that plague the South China Sea region. The incident represents the first documented case of water cannon use against Philippine vessels in this specific area, signaling a troubling new phase in China’s assertive maritime tactics against its smaller neighbor.
❗️ Tensions flare in the South China Sea
The Philippines say a Chinese coast guard ship slammed into its vessel near Sandy Cay, firing a water cannon in a disputed zone
Manila called it a serious violation, while China's MFA said it wasn't aware of the incident pic.twitter.com/JRy1Ej9hJ0
— RT (@RT_com) May 22, 2025
Conflicting Claims and International Response
China has offered a starkly different account of the incident, claiming the Filipino vessel “dangerously” approached and “illegally intruded” into what they call Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao waters. When questioned about the confrontation, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, “What I can tell you is that the Chinese coastguard always enforces the law in accordance with laws and regulations.” Beijing maintains that their coastguard acted professionally and legally in response to what they characterize as Philippine provocation, continuing a pattern of territorial assertions that extend across nearly the entire South China Sea.
“What I can tell you is that the Chinese coastguard always enforces the law in accordance with laws and regulations”, said Mao Ning.
The United States, Japan, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have all issued statements condemning China’s actions. U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson was particularly pointed in her criticism, describing the water cannon attack as endangering lives during a “lawful civilian mission” and threatening regional stability. Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo emphasized his country’s commitment to upholding the rule of law in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, stating Japan was “very concerned about the dangerous actions, including use of water cannons against the BFAR vessel.”
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Tensions flared again in the #SouthChinaSea as a #China Coast Guard ship reportedly fired water cannon and sideswiped a #Philippine government vessel near Sand Cay, close to #Vietnam.
The incident involved a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic… pic.twitter.com/F7U6UpXHHy
— News9 (@News9Tweets) May 22, 2025
Disputed Territory and Legal Context
The confrontation occurs against the backdrop of China’s sweeping territorial claims over the South China Sea, which overlap with areas claimed by multiple Southeast Asian nations including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. A recent Chinese state media report claimed Sandy Cay 2 was under China’s control, a declaration promptly denounced by Philippine authorities. This latest incident further complicates an already tense maritime situation in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, through which approximately $3 trillion in global trade passes annually.
“very concerned about the dangerous actions, including use of water cannons against the BFAR vessel”, said Japanese Ambassador in the Philippines Kazuya Endo.
The 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal found that China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law. This landmark decision, brought by the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), explicitly rejected Beijing’s “nine-dash line” claim. However, China has consistently refused to recognize this ruling, continuing instead to assert sovereignty through increasingly aggressive maritime actions and the militarization of artificial islands constructed throughout the disputed waters.
