BEIJING: China’s Coast Guard fired water cannon on Tuesday at Philippine ships near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, accusing Manila of an “illegal” intrusion and the ramming of one of its vessels. The confrontation comes a week after China approved plans to turn the shoal into a national nature reserve, a move that defense analysts have warned would test Manila’s response over the 150 square-kilometer triangular chain of reefs and rocks.

Manila should ‘stop provocations’, says Beijing, days after announcing plans for national nature reserve in contested Scarborough Shoal.

Chinese used water cannons and other ‘control measures’ against boats they say were ‘engaged in illegal activities’ in the area.

BEIJING: China’s Coast Guard fired water cannon on Tuesday at Philippine ships near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, accusing Manila of an “illegal”…

Both sides traded accusations six days after Beijing announced plans to turn the atoll into a nature reserve.

MANILA: The Philippines said one person was injured Tuesday when a water cannon attack by a China Coast Guard vessel shattered a window on the bridge of a fisheries bureau ship…