Philippines Accuses China of "Dangerous Harassment" In South China Sea

The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard Friday of "dangerous harassment" of Filipino boats in the disputed South China Sea, including firing a water cannon and blocking vessels on a resupply mission.

The incident happened during a Philippine mission to deliver provisions to a tiny garrison on Second Thomas Shoal, which is part of the Spratly Islands and a longstanding flashpoint between the countries.

China deploys coast guard and other vessels to patrol the hotly contested region and asserts its claim to almost the entire South China Sea.

Manila said the Chinese coast guard and other vessels "recklessly harassed, blocked, executed dangerous maneuvers" as they tried to "illegally impede or obstruct" Friday's mission.

A Chinese coast guard vessel had fired a water cannon against one of two supply boats, according to the Philippines' National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

The supply mission was also the target of "extremely reckless and dangerous harassment at close proximity" by Chinese boats inside the shoal, it said in a statement, adding that the Philippine vessels still managed to deliver their cargo.

China, however, said it "took control measures" against two Philippine transport boats and three coast guard vessels it insisted were in Chinese waters.

"The Philippines' actions infringe on China's territorial sovereignty," China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said.

"We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its infringing actions."

Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

A handful of Filipino troops are stationed on the crumbling BRP Sierra Madre, which the Philippine Navy grounded on the reef in 1999 to check China's advance in the waters.

The troops depend on the resupply missions for their survival.

The task force said the Philippine embassy in Beijing had lodged a protest with the Chinese foreign ministry over the latest incident, which it said had "put the lives of our people at risk".

"The systematic and consistent manner in which the People's Republic of China carries out these illegal and