A Chinese coast guard ship blasted a Philippines navy operated supply boat with a water cannon and harassed the vessel in the contested South China Sea for the second day in a row on Sunday, the head of the Philippine military said.
Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. disclosed that he was on board the Unnaiza Mae 1 when it was targeted by the Chinese coast guard with a water cannon. The Philippine vessel was en route to deliver Christmas gifts, food, and other provisions to Filipino marines and navy personnel stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.
Describing the incident as “pure aggression,” Brawner conveyed his firsthand account, stating, “I witnessed how many times the big Chinese coast guard and militia ships cut our path. They water-cannoned us, then bumped us. It’s angering. a Philippines navy
During the occurrences on Saturday and Sunday, the force of the water cannon impacted the Philippine supply boat M/L Kalayaan, rendering it disabled and requiring towage back to a Philippine port. Additionally, one of the two Philippine coast guard escort ships, the BRP Cabra, suffered damage to its mast in the confrontations with Chinese forces.
Chinese ships also rammed a Philippine vessel off Second Thomas Shoal and separately in Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines.