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The Philippine National Maritime Council reported incidents wherein the Chinese Coast Guard allegedly used high-pressure water cannons and sideswiped a Philippine patrol ship near the Scarborough Shoal, a region fraught with contention. Such actions have been characterized by the Philippine government as blatant violations of international law and an affront to the expected norms of mutual respect between sovereign nations.
In response to the allegations, the Chinese Coast Guard claimed that a Philippine vessel had ignored multiple warnings and had intentionally rammed into one of their ships. This exchange of accusations underscores the escalating confrontational atmosphere surrounding these maritime operations, which both nations depend on yet vehemently contest.