A growing number of foreign governments, including the United States, Japan, European Union, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the Netherlands, have expressed alarm and condemnation over China’s latest use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine civilian vessels conducting a lawful mission in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
On May 21, two ships of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducting marine scientific research near Sandy Cay—a reef locally known as Pulo ng Bailan well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone near Pag-asa Island—were water cannoned, blocked, and sideswiped by vessels from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson described these as “aggressive actions” that “recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability.”
“We stand with our Philippine allies in support of international law and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said in a post on X on Thursday.
Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo echoed this concern, describing the use of water cannons against civilian vessels as “dangerous actions” and reiterating Japan’s commitment to the rule of law and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
The European Union Delegation in Manila and Dutch Ambassador Marielle Geraedts both highlighted that the incident underscores the need to uphold UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling which invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. “Freedom of navigation is important to us all,” said Geraedts. “The Netherlands stands with the Philippines.”
The UK Embassy in Manila, through Ambassador Laure Beaufils, issued a sharp rebuke: “The UK condemns the latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard…[This is] a worrying escalation of behavior. International law and the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected.”
Canada on Friday morning said it was “alarmed” by the use of water cannons and ramming of a BFAR vessel, calling it part of China’s “coercive and intimidation activities” in the region.
Australia’s Ambassador HK Yu also warned that such actions endangered lives and regional stability, calling for compliance with international law.
New Zealand, meanwhile, described the incident as “troubling” and emphasized that disputes must be resolved “peacefully and in accordance with UNCLOS.”
Taiwan, which also claims parts of the South China Sea, expressed “deep concern” over China Coast Guard’s actions against Philippine civilian vessels, calling them a threat to regional peace. In a rare statement, it urged restraint and voiced support for the Philippines.
According to the Philippine National Maritime Council, the marine scientific mission was gathering critical data for fisheries management, food security, and environmental protection—functions aligned with international norms and squarely within the country’s maritime jurisdiction.
China, however, claimed that the Philippine vessels had “illegally entered” what it called Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao, reiterating its expansive claims that have already been ruled invalid by an international arbitral tribunal.
In a statement, the Chinese Coast Guard defended its actions as “professional, standard, and legal.”
Despite China’s claims, the Philippines maintains full sovereignty and jurisdiction over Pag-asa Island and its surrounding cays, which form part of the Kalayaan Island Group within the West Philippine Sea.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is expected to file another diplomatic protest, adding to the growing list of international calls for Beijing to cease its aggressive and unlawful behavior in Philippine waters.
