US, SK, NZ decry water cannon attack

The embassies of the United States, South Korea and New Zealand have expressed concern over the China Coast Guard’s use of a water cannon against a Philippine patrol vessel near Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) last week.

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The three embassies issued separate statements on Monday and Tuesday calling out the Chinese vessel’s dangerous maneuvers against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“The United States stands with the Philippines in upholding freedom of navigation and condemning the China Coast Guard’s dangerous actions that disrupted a lawful Philippine mission to provide supplies to fisherfolk within the Philippine EEZ,” the US Embassy said in a social media post.

The Korean Embassy said it was “concerned about the recent use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine vessels around the Scarborough Shoal,” while reaffirming its support for peace and stability in the South China Sea.