Philippine fishermen injured by Chinese coast guard

Chinese coast guard ships used powerful water cannon and blocking manoeuvres against 20 Philippine fishing boats off a disputed South China Sea shoal, injuring three Filipinos and damaging two of their boats in a life-threatening assault, the Philippine coast guard said on Saturday.

- 

Chinese coast guard personnel aboard smaller rubber boats later deliberately cut the anchor lines of several of the Philippine boats on Friday afternoon off Sabina Shoal, “endangering the vessels and their crews amid strong currents and high waves,” the coast guard said.

Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the latest reported flareup of the long-unresolved territorial disputes in the South China Sea, but they have vowed to defend their claimed territories at all costs.