3 Philippine Troops Hurt by China Water Cannon

Defense News ,Philippine :-  In the latest clash between the Philippines and China, three Filipino soldiers got hurt. This happened when China's Coast Guard sprayed water cannons at a Filipino supply ship near a reef in the South China Sea. Eduardo Ano, who advises the Philippine government on national security, shared this news on Sunday.

The Philippine government said the attack severely damaged the ship called Unaizah May 4. The ship was carrying troops and supplies to a Philippine navy ship stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal.

China says it owns almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring claims from other countries like the Philippines. They even dismissed a ruling by an international court that said their claim wasn't legal.

Ano mentioned that three navy personnel on the ship got hurt during Saturday's incident. However, details about their injuries weren't given. The military said they got treated on a coast guard ship escorting them.

This wasn't the first attack. Earlier on March 5, four crew members were hurt when China's Coast Guard attacked the same ship with water cannons, causing broken glass injuries.

Ano expressed his frustration, saying it was a routine operation to rotate and resupply troops. But he couldn't believe the aggressive reaction from the Chinese.

The United States, which has a defense agreement with the Philippines, criticized China's actions. They called it destabilizing for the region and a violation of international law. The US reaffirmed its commitment to support the Philippines through their mutual defense treaty.

China's Coast Guard defended its actions, saying they were within the law. They claimed they were just stopping a foreign ship from entering Chinese waters forcefully.

After the attack, the damaged ship managed to restart its engine and return to Palawan, a province in the western Philippines. Ano made it clear that despite the incident, they won't back down. They're determined to keep supplying their troops stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal.