Chinese coast guard ships blast Philippine vessels with water cannon

A Chinese coast guard ship uses water cannon against Philippine coast guard patrol ship, BRP Cabra as it approaches Second Thomas Shoal (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

The Chinese coast guard attacked Philippine vessels with water cannon blasts and rammed one of them, causing damage and endangering Filipino crew members off a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, officials said.

The Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, condemned the latest confrontation near the Second Thomas Shoal, where two Philippine navy-operated supply boats and two Philippine coast guard escort ships to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino forces in a long-marooned navy ship that serves as a territorial outpost.