'Back Off,' Manila Rebukes Beijing After Chinese Coastguard Vessels Fire Water Cannon At Philippines Ships

The Philippines has lashed out at China, asking it to "back off" after its supply ships were fired at with water cannons by Chinese coastguard vessels.

Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin said three ships from the Chinese coastguard blocked and fired water cannons on two Philippines supply boats within the country’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, according to Reuters.

"The acts of the Chinese coast guard vessels are illegal," Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin said in a statement shared on social media by the Foreign Ministry. "China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas. They must take heed and back off," he added.

The incident happened near Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) on Nov. 16 and the Philippine vessels, which were taking food supplies to military personnel stationed nearby, were forced to abandon the mission. No one was injured. Manila considers Ayungin Shoal a part of the Kalayaan Island Group, under the Palawan province.

The minister also accused Beijing of "failing to exercise self-restraint" and said he has talked to Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi to condemn and protest the incident.

Manila also added that it will continue to provide supplies to troops in Ayungin Shoal. "We do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory," Locsin said.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea chair Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said more Chinese vessels were spotted in Ayungin Shoal and Pag-asa (Thitu) Island. Thitu is a part of Spratlys and is administered by the Philippines.

According to Esperon Jr, only two Chinese maritime militia are usually deployed in the area of Ayungin, but the number increased to 19 in the past week. On the Island, the number of Chinese vessels spiked to 45, which officials called "record number."

"They are too aggressive so we are protesting that. Some of them remain there. The number may go down. but last week it reached 45. That's too much," he was quoted by CNN Philippines.

There is an ongoing territorial dispute between China and the Philippines, which worsened early this year after Chinese maritime militia boats appeared on the disputed Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea. However, Beijing claimed they were fishing boats taking shelter from bad weather.

While China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea based on its so-called 'nine-dash line' but the international tribunal in Hague dismissed China's claim in favor of the Philippines.

The relation between the countries also worsened after China passed a coastguard law that allowed it to fire on foreign vessels which breached the territory. The Philippines had called the law a "verbal threat of war."