China-Philippines Tensions Escalate with Water Cannon Incident in South China Sea
Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at Philippine fisheries vessels in the South China Sea, marking the third confrontation in the disputed waters within a week. The incident occurred near the Scarborough Shoal, a region claimed by both China and the Philippines. The Philippine coast guard condemned the actions as dangerous and unprofessional, asserting that the shoal is part of Philippine territory. This confrontation coincided with annual ministerial meetings in Manila, where Asian and Western governments expressed concerns over China's maritime aggression. The ASEAN foreign ministers discussed the disputes and emphasized the need for a nonaggression pact to prevent armed conflict in the region. 
