Philippines says China coast guard blasted water cannon at boat in disputed sea

This frame grab from handout aerial video footage taken and released on March 23, 2024 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows a China Coast Guard ship (top) deploying water cannon against the Philippine military-chartered civilian boat Unaizah May 4 during its supply mission near the Second Thomas Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of blocking and firing water cannon at a Filipino supply vessel on March 23 off a remote and contested South China Sea reef. -- (Photo by ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES / AFP)

MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippines on Saturday said a Filipino civilian boat was severely damaged after two China Coast Guard ships fired water cannons at it, in the latest confrontation between the two nations in the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese ships "deliberately” targeted the Unaizah May 4, which was on its way to resupply Filipino troops stationed at an outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippine military said in a statement that contained videos of the incident.