Philippines says China damaged its vessels at sea with water cannons

What's next? The Philippines' task force on South China Sea issues said a coast guard ship and a fisheries vessel were damaged by water cannons used by Chinese coast guard ships. Philippines has accused China's coast guard of harassment and of damaging two of its boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea, rejecting Beijing's position that it had expelled those vessels from the hotly contested shoal. The Philippines' task force on South China Sea issues said a coast guard ship and a fisheries vessel were damaged by water cannons used by Chinese coast guard ships, as the vessels headed to Scarborough shoal to assist Filipino fishermen in the area. China claims sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. China and the Philippines have traded accusations of illegal conduct at the Scarborough Shoal and Manila recently summoned a Chinese diplomat to explain aggressive manoeuvres. China typically accuses the Philippines of encroaching on its territory. The two countries previously said they would seek better communication over skirmishes in the South China Sea, but tensions have increased recently, as the Philippines forges stronger diplomatic and military ties with the United States.