Sky News observes altercation in contested South China Sea | Global News

In a tense showdown in the South China Sea, the Chinese coastguard used a water cannon against a vessel carrying journalists from Sky News. The incident occurred just outside the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area claimed by both China and the Philippines.

The confrontation resulted in damage to the canopy of the Philippine Coastguard ship, BRP Bagacay, where Sky’s Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch was reporting from. Lynch described the situation as a “game of brinkmanship” between China and the Philippines, both asserting their claims over the contested waters.

China’s coastguard claimed to have “expelled” the Philippine coastguard ship and another vessel from the waters near the Scarborough Shoal, escalating tensions between the two nations. The Philippines maintains that the Shoal falls within its exclusive economic zone, while China insists it is their territory.

The incident is the latest in a series of clashes between the two countries at the disputed atoll. Both sides have accused each other of aggressive maneuvers in the area, leading to diplomatic tensions and confrontations at sea.

Foreign affairs spokesman Lin Jian defended China’s actions, stating that the Scarborough Shoal is an “inherent territory” of China and accusing the Philippines of provocative behavior. He claimed that the Chinese coastguard’s response was necessary to protect China’s sovereignty and was carried out in accordance with the law.

As the dispute over the Scarborough Shoal continues to escalate, the international community watches closely to see how the situation will unfold in the strategically important South China Sea.