China Coast Guard blasts Filipino boats with water cannons at Panatag Shoal

DAVAO CITY (June 24) – Again, the China Coast Guard has reportedly harassed the Philippine government mission at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) on June 20.

The Philippine Coast Guard in a report stated that  two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels – with hull numbers CCG-4203 and CCG-3105 – aggressively interfered with a Philippine government mission and attacked the vessel through water cannons.

The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) had deployed four vessels (BRP Datu Tamblot, Datu Taradapit, Datu Bangkaya, and Datu Daya) with Philippine Coast Guard escorts to deliver fuel subsidies to local Filipino fishing boats operating near the shoal

As the BFAR convoy arrived, Chinese coast guard ships engaged in blocking maneuvers and even fired water cannons in an attempt to drive them away

One BFAR vessel, the Datu Taradapit, was approached within 600 yards by CCG-4203 and blasted with a water cannon at about 10:00 a.m., briefly hitting its port side before the Filipino crew evaded further harm

 Another Chinese vessel (CCG-3105) later targeted the Datu Tamblot with a water cannon around 10:30 a.m., although that blast missed its mark

 Chinese ships also shadowed the other BFAR vessels at close range, at one point nearly colliding with BRP Datu Daya and Datu Bangkaya, while broadcasting radio warnings asserting the area was Chinese territory

Despite these hostile actions, the Philippine team completed their mission. The BFAR ships managed to maneuver away from the most dangerous encounters and avoid serious damage, all while continuing to distribute the fuel aid to the gathered fishing boats

No injuries were reported among the Filipino crew, and the vessels remained operational. Philippine officials noted that the operation was conducted in a calm and professional manner on their side, emphasizing that it occurred well within the Philippines’ own waters

However, the incident marked yet another tense confrontation in the disputed West Philippine Sea, underscoring the growing physical risks in these encounters.

Humanitarian Mission for Filipino Fishermen

The BFAR-led mission was a humanitarian effort aimed at supporting Filipino fisherfolk who depend on the rich waters around Panatag Shoal. Over twenty local fishing vessels had converged in the area to receive fuel subsidies and supplies intended to sustain their livelihood at sea. Philippine authorities organized this aid run to help fishermen offset operating costs and assert their right to fish in traditional grounds despite increasing pressure from China. BFAR vessels routinely carry food, fuel, and other necessities to Filipino fishing communities in the West Philippine Sea as part of the national government’s commitment to assist fishermen and uphold their welfare The June 20 mission, in particular, was framed as a “support and subsidies” operation to bolster food security for these coastal communities

For the fishermen, Panatag Shoal has for generations been a fertile fishing zone that directly feeds their families and local markets. In recent years, however, accessing the shoal’s waters has become perilous due to the presence of Chinese coast guard and militia vessels that often attempt to ward off or intimidate Filipino fishers. In past incidents, China’s interference even included installing a floating barrier at the shoal’s lagoon entrance to keep Philippine boats out – an act Manila condemned and physically removed in 2023 as an affront to fisherfolk rights

Philippine officials stress that blocking humanitarian assistance to fishermen or preventing them from plying their trade is not only unlawful but also inhumane, as it directly threatens the livelihood of ordinary people

The fuel aid mission on June 20 was a tangible response to these challenges – a demonstration that the Philippine government will support its fishermen on the frontlines of the dispute. Despite the harassment, the successful delivery of aid was a morale boost to the fishing community, reinforcing that their government stands with them even in contested waters

Background: The Panatag Shoal Dispute

An astronaut photograph of Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) taken from the International Space Station in 2015, showing the triangular coral reef and its shallow lagoon. Scarborough Shoal – locally called Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal – is a triangular atoll with a large lagoon, abundant marine life, and rich fishing grounds

It lies about 124 nautical miles west of Zambales province on Luzon, squarely within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as defined by the 1982 UNCLOS treaty

Historically, Filipino fishermen frequented this shoal (as did fishermen from neighboring countries and even China) without issue. However, in 2012 a standoff between the Philippines and China resulted in China effectively seizing de facto control of Scarborough Shoal

Since then, Chinese coast guard vessels have maintained a constant presence, regulating access to the shoal. Beijing’s ships have at times blocked Filipino fishermen from entering the inner lagoon or chased them away entirely, forcing many to venture farther into sea or settle for smaller catches outside the shoal

The Philippines contends that Panatag Shoal is an integral part of its territory (it was even officially claimed in a 1900 treaty), or at the very least firmly within its economic zone where it has sovereign rights to resources. China, on the other hand, claims Scarborough Shoal (which it calls Huangyan Island) as its own territory, citing historical maps and its expansive “nine-dash line” claim over almost the entire South China Sea

This conflicting claim turned the shoal into a geopolitical flashpoint. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled against China’s claims, stating that no feature in the South China Sea (including Scarborough) grants a legal basis for broad maritime entitlements to China, and that Filipino traditional fishing rights at the shoal should not be impeded

China has rejected that ruling and continued to assert jurisdiction, but the Philippines and most of the international community view China’s ongoing occupation and enforcement at Scarborough as illegal. Over the past decade, Panatag Shoal has thus remained a tense symbol of the wider South China Sea dispute – a relatively small ring of rocks and reefs whose control carries enormous legal and strategic significance.

Geopolitical and Security Implications

This latest harassment incident highlights the broader geopolitical stakes in the West Philippine Sea. China’s deployment of not just coast guard cutters but also navy warships and maritime militia around Panatag during the BFAR mission was noted with alarm in Manila

According to Philippine Coast Guard reports, a contingent of six CCG vessels, two People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, and multiple militia boats loomed in the vicinity as the fuel convoy went about its task

The presence of Chinese gray-hulled warships alongside the coast guard implies a coordinated show of force. Analysts see this as part of Beijing’s continued strategy to assert its maritime claims through overwhelming presence, often described as employing a “gray zone” fleet (coast guard and militia) backed by the deterrent of the PLA Navy. Each confrontation at places like Scarborough Shoal reverberates regionally and internationally. The South China Sea has become a critical flashpoint in Asia, pitting China’s expansive territorial ambitions against the sovereignty of smaller Southeast Asian states and the interests of global powers in freedom of navigation

The Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been strengthening security cooperation with allies such as the United States, Japan, and Australia in response to growing Chinese aggression at sea. Top U.S. officials have repeatedly affirmed that attacks on Philippine public vessels in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, would trigger the U.S.–Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty

. (Notably, after a similar water-cannon incident last month, the U.S. ambassador in Manila called China’s actions “reckless and unlawful,” reiterating that America “stands with” the Philippines

.) Such backing underscores how these maritime skirmishes involve not just Manila and Beijing, but also Washington’s credibility in protecting its ally – raising the risk that a miscalculation at sea could draw in bigger powers. Beyond alliance politics, regional forums are also in play.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has long been negotiating a Code of Conduct with China to manage disputes, but progress has been slow. Marcos Jr. recently urged ASEAN to fast-track a legally binding code, warning that clear rules are needed “to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability and prevent escalation” in the South China Sea Each new incident, like the harassment at Panatag Shoal, adds urgency to those calls.

There is also concern that China might one day militarize Scarborough Shoal itself by building facilities there (as it has on other features), which would dramatically alter the strategic balance. For now, China has not constructed an outpost on the shoal, but its control is asserted through constant patrols.

 The geopolitical message of the June 20 encounter was clear: China is willing to brazenly confront the Philippines to cement its claims – but the Philippines is increasingly prepared to push back, diplomatically and by maintaining a presence, rather than yielding its rights.

Maritime Law and Sovereignty Issues

Philippine officials have been at pains to stress that the BFAR mission to Scarborough Shoal was completely lawful, occurring in Philippine waters under  Panatag Shoal sits well inside the Philippines’ EEZ, entitling the Philippines to exclusive access to fisheries and other resources there under UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)

Commodore Jay Tarriela, the coast guard’s spokesperson on West Philippine Sea matters, noted that Filipino fishermen “have sovereign rights to exploit resources in these waters” and that the deployment of BFAR and PCG vessels to support them was “fully aligned with the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, UNCLOS, and the 2016 Arbitral Award.”

In other words, the Philippine side asserts it was exercising its legal rights in its own EEZ – and that the 2016 Hague ruling explicitly upheld those rights by invalidating China’s sweeping nine-dash-line claim

. From the Philippine perspective, the Chinese coast guard’s actions on June 20 (shadowing, dangerous maneuvers, and use of water cannons) violated international law. The National Maritime Council in Manila condemned China’s “unlawful actions” at Panatag Shoal, pointing out that such aggression flouts UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision, which together form the legal basis for Philippines’ maritime entitlements

Interfering with a peaceful supply mission also contravenes the principle of freedom of navigation and lawful use of the seas. The council emphasized that the BFAR mission was a legitimate maritime patrol and fisheries support operation in Philippine waters, and therefore China’s interference had no justification in law China, however, rejects these assertions.

 Beijing continues to insist that Scarborough Shoal is Chinese territory and that it has sovereign rights there – a stance it has maintained despite the arbitral ruling against it. Chinese coast guard crews regularly warn Philippine boats to leave “Chinese territory,” as happened during this incident via radio broadcasts from CCG-4106

Following many past confrontations, Chinese officials have claimed that Philippine vessels were the intruders violating China’s sovereignty, and that the CCG’s actions (whether blocking or water-cannon use) were “necessary control measures” to enforce Chinese law

Essentially, the two sides have diametrically opposed legal views of who has rights at Panatag Shoal. The Philippines holds up the UNCLOS-based arbitral award as the final word, whereas China ignores it and asserts a historical claim. This legal impasse means incidents are likely to recur as both nations attempt to enforce their claims on the water.

Official Responses and Reactions

The Philippine government responded to the June 20 harassment with a strong public condemnation. Through its National Maritime Council, Manila “strongly condemned” the China Coast Guard’s aggressive actions – including the water cannon firing and dangerous maneuvers – against the BFAR vessels near Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag)

The council’s statement, issued on June 22, blasted the CCG’s behavior as “unlawful, dangerous, and a violation of international law,” and it called on China “to cease unlawful actions, act with restraint, and adhere to international law to maintain regional peace and stability.”

Philippine officials highlighted that the Filipino captains and crew “remained professional and completed their mission” despite provocation and they vowed that the Philippines “reaffirms its commitment to defending sovereignty and supporting Filipino fishermen.”

The statement made clear that Philippine maritime forces will continue lawful patrols and aid missions “with professionalism and determination,” essentially signaling that these Chinese tactics will not deter future Philippine operations

 The Department of Foreign Affairs was expected to file a formal diplomatic protest over the incident, as it has done for similar incidents in the past President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also weighed in publicly to reiterate the Philippine stance.

In a podcast address, Marcos said that while the Philippines seeks no conflict, it “will not back down” when its rights are challenged. “We’re not looking for a fight. But don’t harass our fishermen, okay? Don’t block us in our own territory. We will really fight for that,” the president said, switching between Filipino and English

He noted that giving up even “one inch” of Philippine territory or rights is

 Marcos asserted that under his administration, “We did not yield. We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic… and we continue to protect and defend the people of the Republic,” referencing the government’s efforts in the West Philippine Sea These forceful remarks underscore that the leadership in Manila views incidents like the Panatag Shoal harassment as part of a larger test of national resolve – one they intend to meet with a firm stance.

 International reaction to this specific incident has so far been measured, but it fits into a pattern that has drawn increasing global attention.

While no country aside from the Philippines has a direct claim to Scarborough Shoal, allies such as the United States regularly speak out against China’s actions in the South China Sea. U.S. officials have in previous cases denounced China’s use of water cannons and other coercive tactics as provocations that “violate international law and endanger lives and livelihoods.”

The continued harassment of Filipino vessels is likely to be raised in regional security forums and was possibly discussed on the sidelines of the recent ASEAN summit.

For its part, China’s Foreign Ministry typically defends the coast guard’s conduct by accusing the Philippines of trespassing in Chinese waters and by warning external powers (like the U.S.) not to “meddle” in Asian affairs In this incident, Chinese state media echoed that the CCG had “drove away” the Philippine boats that it claims entered Chinese territory, sticking to Beijing’s sovereignty narrative.

Moving forward, the Panatag Shoal encounter has reinforced the Philippines’ determination to stand its ground, even as it also pursues diplomatic avenues. Observers note that each such clash further galvanizes international support for the Philippines’ legal position and could strengthen calls for collective adherence to maritime law.

In Manila, officials stress that asserting rights is non-negotiable – fuel missions and patrols will continue, fishermen will be assisted, and unlawful aggression will be protested at every turn.

 “Don’t block us in our own territory,” President Marcos warned – a message directed at Beijing, but also a reassurance to Filipinos that their government will defend their sovereignty and their livelihood on the sea