CaliToday (13/12/2025): Tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea escalated sharply on December 12 following a violent confrontation near the Spratly Islands. Philippine officials have lodged a fierce protest after Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels unleashed high-pressure water cannons on Filipino fishing boats, leaving three fishermen injured and causing significant structural damage to their vessels.
The incident marks a dangerous uptick in aggressive maneuvers in the region, drawing immediate condemnation from Manila regarding the safety of civilians at sea.
A Chaotic Encounter at Sea
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the confrontation occurred while Filipino fishermen were operating within the vicinity of the Spratly Islands (referred to locally as the Kalayaan Island Group).
Reports indicate that CCG vessels engaged in dangerous blocking maneuvers before directing high-pressure water cannons at the wooden-hulled fishing boats. The impact was severe:
3 fishermen sustained injuries due to the force of the water and the resulting debris.
2 fishing vessels suffered serious damage, with officials describing shattered outriggers and communication equipment failures.
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| This handout photo from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) taken and received on December 13, 2025, shows coast guard personnel attending to injured fishermen after an incident with China Coast Guard near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. — AFP |
Harassment and Rescue Obstruction
The scope of the incident extended beyond a single confrontation. The PCG revealed that approximately 20 fishing boats in the area were subjected to harassment and "swarming" tactics by Chinese vessels.
In a move that has drawn particular ire from maritime observers, Chinese ships reportedly impeded rescue operations. When Philippine rescue vessels attempted to reach the distressed fishermen, CCG ships allegedly performed close-distance maneuvers to block their path, delaying critical medical assistance and towing operations.
Manila’s Strong Rebuke
The Philippines has issued a stern statement condemning the actions as "barbaric" and a clear violation of international maritime law.
"We demand that China adhere to international rules of conduct," a spokesperson for the Philippine task force stated. "The safety of life at sea must be the primary consideration. Actions that blatantly endanger the lives of ordinary fishermen are unacceptable and violate basic humanitarian principles."
Manila emphasized that the use of military-grade water cannons against civilian wooden boats is disproportionate and violates the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).
Geopolitical Context
This incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.
The Claim: China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually.
The Ruling: An international tribunal in The Hague invalidated China's expansive claims in 2016, a ruling Beijing refuses to recognize.
Gray Zone Tactics: Analysts point to this incident as a classic example of "gray zone" tactics aggressive actions that fall just short of an act of war but are designed to intimidate and assert control over disputed territories.
CaliToday.Net