US: Ship damage, injury to crew is ‘irresponsible behaviour’

Damage to Philippine vessels and injuries to their crew in the South China Sea is “irresponsible behaviour” in disregard of international law, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said, weighing in on the latest flare-up involving China.

Manila and Beijing have traded barbs almost daily since Tuesday’s confrontation at the disputed Scarborough shoal, where China’s coastguard used water cannon against to two vessels from the Philippines, prompting outrage from its government.