Phl fishermen hurt, boat damaged by China in WPS

Another water cannon attack by the Chinese has injured three Filipino fishermen and caused "significant damage" to their vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard reported yesterday.

- GHIO ONG

In a statement, the PCG said the latest water cannon incident occurred in the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal near Palawan last Friday.

On the same day, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said it had expelled a Philippine aircraft from the airspace over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

It was the latest in a series of escalating confrontations at sea between Chinese and Philippine vessels. Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including the area within Philippine waters called West Philippine Sea, despite an international ruling that Beijing's assertion has no legal basis.

Nearly two dozen Philippine fishing boats "were targeted with water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers," according to PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela, who accused the Chinese of "evil wrongdoing to ordinary Filipino fishermen." A small Chinese coast guard boat also cut the anchor lines of several Filipino boats, endangering their crews, the PCG said.

"Three fishermen sustained physical injuries, including bruises and open wounds. Two (Filipino fishing boats) also suffered significant damage from high-pressure water cannon blasts," Tarriela said.