Philippines says three soldiers hurt by China water cannon

Four crew members were injured by broken glass in an earlier China Coast Guard water cannon attack on the same vessel on Mar 5.

“This is just an ordinary rotation and resupply or provision operation but look at how the Chinese are reacting,” Ano told reporters, according to an interview transcript shared with AFP.

The United States, which has a mutual defence pact with Manila, has denounced the attack.

“The (Chinese) actions are destabilising to the region and show clear disregard for international law,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement, reaffirming Washington’s mutual defence treaty commitments to Manila.

The China Coast Guard has defended its actions, describing them as “lawful regulation, interception and expulsion” of a foreign vessel that “tried to forcefully intrude” into Chinese waters.

Ano said the damaged vessel has returned to the western province of Palawan after its crew managed to restart its engine. 

“We will not be deterred. We will not be intimidated,” he said, vowing the Philippines would continue to resupply the garrison on Second Thomas Shoal.