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WATCH: Philippine flag takes direct hit from China water cannon

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ABS-CBN News

<p>A water cannon incident that damaged two Filipino vessels also directly hit the Philippine flag during a patrol in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>A Chinese coast guard vessel fired the water cannon on the flag on the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, a PCG video showed.</p><p>The PCG vessel and another government boat were damaged in the April 30 incident near Panatag Shoal, according to the Manila&#x27;s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).  </p><p>Manila and Beijing have a long history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and the neighbors have been involved in several maritime incidents in recent months as they assert their rival claims in the strategic waterway.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/5/1/philippines-says-chinese-coast-guard-elevating-tensions-in-south-china-sea-1338">PCG won&#x27;t retaliate vs China&#x27;s water cannon</a></div><p>The latest, near the China-controlled Panatag Shoal, occurred during a mission to resupply Filipino fishermen.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/1/bfar-continues-humanitarian-mission-in-scarborough-despite-china-water-cannon-1557">BFAR continues humanitarian mission in Scarborough despite China water cannon</a></div><p>Zhou Zhiyong, the number two official at the Chinese embassy, was <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/2/philippines-summons-china-envoy-over-water-cannon-attack-1226">summoned</a> by Manila over &quot;the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous manoeuvres, use of water cannons, and other aggressive actions of China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels&quot;, according to a statement from the DFA.</p><p>The Philippines said the pressure in Tuesday&#x27;s water cannon incident was far more powerful than anything previously used, and that it tore or bent metal sections and equipment on the Philippine vessels.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/1/china-coast-guard-becoming-more-aggressive-philippines-1615">China Coast Guard becoming &#x27;more aggressive&#x27;: Philippines</a></div><p>Thursday&#x27;s diplomatic protest was the 20th lodged by Manila this year, and 153rd since President Ferdinand Marcos came to power in mid-2022, the DFA said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FIRE BACK?</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the Philippines should procure <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">more equipment for the coast guard and military to boost the country’s ability to defend its territory.</span></p><p>&quot;Alam ko na tuloy-tuloy ang pag file natin ng diplomatic protest pero hindi tayo pwede tumigil. Ito ang paraan natin para ipakita sa buong mundo na tayo ay sumusunod sa international law at tayo ay sumusunod doon sa arbitral ruling,”he added. </p><p>Sen. Francis Tolentino said <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should be the one to decide whether the Philippines would reciprocate China&#x27;s use of water cannons. </span></p><p>But he said the situation could escalate if the Philippines fires back.</p><p>&quot;They might escalate into something heightened elevate into something greater than water cannon,&quot; Tolentino said. </p><p>On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said the Philippine Coast Guard should be able to retaliate every time the Chinese Coast Guard uses water cannons on them.</p><p>&quot;Do our PCG vessels have their own water cannons? Dapat meron din. Because we should be able to water cannon too those who we believe are violating our laws and sovereign rights up to our EEZ.&quot; Pimentel said in a text message to media.</p><p>(Do our PCG vessels have their own water cannons? They should.)</p><p>&quot;Standard equipment dapat yan sa coast guard sea vessels because that’s how coast guards drive away intruders and those violating laws etc.&quot; (That should be standard equipment in the coast guard because that&#x27;s how they drive away intruders and those violating laws.) </p><p>The latest incident came as the Philippines and the United States held a major annual military exercise that has infuriated Beijing.</p><p>Manila and Washington have a mutual defense treaty and recent confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels have fueled speculation of what would trigger it.</p><p>President Marcos said last month that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had given assurances that the treaty would be invoked if another &quot;foreign power&quot; killed a Filipino soldier.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/3/china-water-cannon-attacks-vs-philippine-vessels-irresponsible-us-defense-chief-1224">China water cannon attacks vs PH vessels &#x27;irresponsible&#x27;: US Defense chief</a><br/><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/30/us-eu-france-condemn-china-s-latest-water-cannon-attack-vs-ph-2018">US, EU, France condemn China&#x27;s latest water cannon attack vs PH</a></div><div><strong>-- With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

<p>A water cannon incident that damaged two Filipino vessels also directly hit the Philippine flag during a patrol in the West Philippine Sea. </p>

A water cannon incident that damaged two Filipino vessels also directly hit the Philippine flag during a patrol in the West Philippine Sea.