China's Water Cannons Test US-Philippines Pact In South China Sea

Well, Beijing says the Philippines is building a military outpost on the shore in the South China Sea. That is claims as Chinese territory. Now, China's vice foreign minister lodged a protest with Manila, calling on the Philippines to stop what it calls provocations at sea. Earlier, the Philippines summoned Beijing's envoy to formally complain about aggressive actions by Chinese vessels after this clash. When it comes to water cannons day on over the weekend in the disputed waterway. Yep. Let's

bring in Drea Kilonzo, our Manila based reporter who was actually on board and witnessed that encounter firsthand. Andrea, thanks for joining us. Just give us a sense. What exactly did you see? So it was a week long and bad trip to the South China Sea and it was an eye opening, firsthand experience. We saw how both China and the Philippines are asserting their claims in the South China Sea. So as a battleground, China has sweeping claims in that area, which was widely validated in 2016 in a ruli

ng that heavily favored the Philippines. But. Beijing has kept its presence in the contested waters. So I saw firsthand Chinese Navy ships there in the area. Chinese Coast Guard vessels, which at one point I use water cannons on a Filipino supply boat for, I think roughly an hour. And then also there were Chinese stocks. Several Chinese military ships there that acts as a force multiplier for Beijing. Andrew. I mean, this is really testing the limits of this decades old defense pact between the

Philippines and the U.S. now. Yes, exactly. So. Analysts are saying that China is employing water cannons to test how or when the mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines will kick in. So this this deal, this calls for an armed attack in the South China Sea will be able to pull in American forces to help defend the Philippines. But analysts are saying the Chinese at that's using water cannons are in a gray area. So there's the question, is this an armed attack and will this be en

ough to draw in U.S., the U.S. in the South China Sea? So, Drew, I guess before a lot of other questions I want to ask you, but I guess before we we get to whether or not the strategy from Malacanang and Manila is actually working, Have we heard from the Chinese? Have we heard from Beijing on this latest incident? Yes. China has maintained that its actions were lawful and restrained and it has warned the Philippines that it will continue to take actions steps to prevent its for what it calls the

legal trespassing in its territory. However, the Philippines, as you mentioned, also launch a protest and call that Chinese actions aggressive and the Philippines said puts into question China's sincerity in settling this maritime excuse. Andrea, we'll leave it there. Andrea console there. Thanks so much for your reporting. A fascinating video that we're seeing here as well.