Philippines says Chinese coast guard used water cannons against its vessels for a second day

A Chinese ship also “water cannoned” three Philippine vessels, causing “serious engine damage” to one of the boats, said a Philippine coast guard spokesman. PHOTO: AFP

MANILA, Philippines (AP): The Chinese coast guard targeted Philippine vessels with water cannon blasts Sunday and rammed one of them, causing damage and endangering Filipino crew members off a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, just a day after similar hostilities at another contested shoal, Philippine officials said.

The Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, immediately condemned the latest confrontation near the Second Thomas Shoal, where two Philippine navy-operated supply boats and two Philippine coast guard escort ships had sailed to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino forces in a long-marooned navy ship that serves as a territorial outpost.