China-Philippines tension: Beijing takes ‘control measures’ against Manila ships at Scarborough Shoal

China’s coast guard said on Tuesday that it had “taken control measures” against several official Philippine vessels at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, accusing them of “operating illegally.” Scarborough Shoal—called Huangyan Island by Beijing and Panatag Shoal by Manila—has long been a flashpoint over sovereignty and fishing access in a vital shipping route carrying more than $3 trillion in annual trade.

China’s Coast Guard fired water cannon at Philippine ships near the shoal, 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 defence analysts warn could test Manila’s response over the 58-sq-mile (150-sq-km) chain of reefs and rocks.

Tensions over Scarborough Shoal have caused repeated diplomatic rows in recent years, though no incident has escalated into armed conflict. Both sides have accused each other of provocations, including the use of water cannon, boat-ramming, aggressive manoeuvres by China’s Coast Guard, and jets shadowing Philippine aircraft.

Tuesday’s encounter involved more than 10 Philippine ships, said Gan Yu, a spokesperson for China’s Coast Guard, accusing the vessels of having “illegally invaded China’s territorial waters of the Scarborough Shoal from different directions.”

He specifically criticised Philippine Coast Guard vessel 3014, saying it had “disregarded solemn warnings from the Chinese side and deliberately rammed a Chinese coast guard vessel.”

Gan Yu added, “The China coast guard lawfully implemented control measures against the Philippine ships.”