China Patrols Scarborough Shoal, Uses Water Cannon on Vessels
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- China's military and coast guard patrolled airspace and waters near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on July 30, according to separate official statements.
- China's Coast Guard said it used verbal warnings, blocking maneuvers, and water cannon in accordance with law and regulations to expel vessels it deemed illegal or harassing.
- Tensions between China and the Philippines remain high amid repeated maritime disputes and confrontations in the South China Sea, the source attests.
- China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, despite overlapping claims by South-east Asian nations.
- The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the latest patrol.
Why it matters: China's dual deployment of military and coast guard assets to Scarborough Shoal — a flashpoint between Beijing and Manila — signals continued escalation in enforcement tactics, with water cannon and blocking maneuvers creating real collision risk for Philippine vessels operating in contested waters.
