The Philippines has told China to “back off” from its territorial zone, reporting that three ships from the Chinese coastguard had blocked and used water cannons on two Filipino supply boats en route to a Philippine-occupied shoal in the disputed South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Nov. 18 that the Filipino boats were transporting food supplies to military personnel stationed in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) on Nov. 16 when they were forced to abort the mission.
