https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/p...ands-gbfmm7rfs
Philippines warns China after boats are hit by water cannon off disputed islands
The Philippines furiously warned China to “back off” after Chinese coastguard vessels used water cannon to push back vessels supplying a remote military base in the South China Sea claimed by Beijing.
The Philippines foreign minister hinted that Manila was willing to invoke its military defence treaty with the United States to defend the passage to its troops stationed on Second Thomas Shoal. It is one of the Spratly Islands, a scattered range of reefs, sandbanks and islets whose rich fishing grounds and strategic position mean they are claimed in whole or part by six governments in the region.
“Fortunately, no one was hurt; but our boats had to abort their resupply mission,” said Teodoro Locsin about the incident on Tuesday. “I have conveyed in the strongest terms . . . our outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident. I reminded China that a public vessel is covered by the Philippines-United States Mutual Defence Treaty.”
Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, is defended by a small detachment of marines living on the Sierra Madre, a rusting Second World War naval ship, which was deliberately run aground there by the Philippines in 1999 to strengthen its claim. Two wooden vessels carrying supplies to the Philippines marines were sprayed with powerful jets of water for an hour, causing minor damage to one of them and forcing their retreat.
“The acts of the Chinese coastguard vessels are illegal,” Locsin said. “China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas. They must take heed and back off.” He added: “The Philippines will continue to provide supplies to our troops in Ayungin Shoal. We do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory.”
In Beijing the spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, Zhao Lijian, said that the Chinese coastguard “upheld China’s sovereignty” after Philippine ships entered Chinese territorial waters without permission……
Locsin’s invocation of the Philippines’ treaty with the US is a reminder of ways in which Washington could be dragged into a conflict over tiny specks of territory far from the American homeland.….