China Coast Guard fires water cannons at Philippine resupply mission near Scarborough Shoal

On July 24, 2026, Chinese Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons at Philippine ships near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, marking the third maritime confrontation between the two nations in one week. The incident occurred as Philippine vessels attempted to resupply fishermen in the disputed area. One of the targeted Philippine ships was carrying a CNN crew documenting the mission. Chinese authorities reported 15 Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels were present; the Philippines deployed 10 ships, three from its coast guard, plus a government aircraft.

China's account and Philippines' account differ on the nature of the incident. China's Coast Guard stated it took "control measures in accordance with the law" against Philippine vessels "engaged in illegal activities" within waters it claims around Huangyan Dao (the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal). China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told CNN the actions were "legitimate and lawful" and "professional, standard, and beyond reproach." The Philippine Coast Guard reported being "subjected to a series of water cannon attacks and dangerous maneuvers." One Chinese vessel came within seven meters (23 feet) of the Philippine ship carrying CNN's crew, the Philippines said, creating a "serious risk of collision." The Philippine vessel's satellite communications were temporarily disrupted by water cannon impacts.

The shoal itself—an uninhabited sandbar with a central lagoon located 140 miles west of Luzon and roughly 530 miles from China's Hainan province—is claimed by China, the Philippines, and Taiwan. China has maintained effective control since 2012 through continuous Coast Guard presence. The South China Sea remains a critical global shipping corridor, with approximately one-third of the world's maritime trade passing through it annually. The waterway also contains rich fishing grounds and disputed territorial claims affecting multiple governments.

Frictions escalated across multiple locations during the week. On July 20, Philippine and Chinese forces clashed near Second Thomas Shoal (Ren'ai Reef), where the Philippines maintains a small military contingent aboard a grounded World War II-era ship, the BRP Sierra Madre. Both sides accused the other of initiating that confrontation. On July 23, a second incident occurred when Philippine officials reported a Chinese vessel conducted a sustained two-minute water cannon attack on a Philippine ship near Scarborough Shoal. Philippine officials stated that on July 24, Chinese vessels organized a coordinated operation involving 7 government ships, 3 maritime police vessels, and 1 fishing vessel, plus "large numbers" of additional fishing boats.

The Philippine ships eventually abandoned their resupply mission on July 24 and returned to port, citing a developing typhoon in the region. Chinese vessels continued shadowing the Philippine fleet at a distance as it withdrew. The incidents occurred as Philippine and Chinese foreign ministers met in Manila during the ASEAN Regional Forum. Both nations' diplomats expressed strong protests to each other during that meeting while emphasizing the need for dialogue to manage differences. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson called on the Philippines to "immediately stop infringement and provocation" and warned that "all consequences" of further actions would be the Philippines' responsibility.