Water cannon standoff raises stakes at Scarborough Shoal amid South China Sea tension
China’s coast guard fired water cannons at Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal, with CNN crew aboard, marking the latest in a week of tense clashes in the South China Sea. About 15 Chinese ships shadowed 10 Philippine ones as a supply mission was canceled, heightening the risk of collision and broader conflict in a region critical to global trade. The incident drew U.S. comments backing Manila under the US-Philippines defense treaty, underscoring the wider geopolitical contest among claimants over the area.
