What's happened
Tensions escalate in the South China Sea as Chinese coast guard ships fire water cannons at Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines protests the incident, summoning a Chinese diplomat to express their concerns.
Why it matters
The use of water cannons by Chinese ships against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea has heightened tensions between the two countries. The Philippines' protest and China's response indicate a potential escalation in the ongoing territorial disputes in the region, impacting maritime security and diplomatic relations.
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, the Philippines accused China of 'dangerous maneuvers and obstruction' in the South China Sea. The Independent reported on the Philippines summoning a Chinese envoy to protest Beijing's actions. Sky News highlighted the damage caused to a Filipino vessel by Chinese water cannon attacks.
How we got here
The Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island, is a disputed area in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines. Tensions have been ongoing in the region due to conflicting territorial claims and maritime activities. The recent incident involving water cannon attacks is part of a series of confrontations between the two countries in the contested waters.
Common question
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
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The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from
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The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines, and in the south by B
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Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital of the Philippines and a highly urbanized city. It is the most densely populated city proper in the world as of 2019.
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The Chinese People's Armed Police Force Coast Guard Corps, also called China Coast Guard Bureau and abbreviated as China Coast Guard or Haijing serves as a coordinating agency for maritime search and rescue and law enforcement in the territorial waters of
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Beijing, alternatively romanized as Peking, is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the world's most populous capital city, with over 21 million residents within an administrative area of 16,410.5 kmĀ².
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Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, Panatag Shoal, Huangyan Island and Democracy Reef, are two rocks in a shoal located between the Macclesfield Bank and Luzon island in the South China Sea.
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A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunte