Third Clash of the Week: China Fires Water Cannon at Philippine Vessel Carrying CNN Crew Near Scarborough Shoal

A China Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine vessel carrying a CNN news crew near Scarborough Shoal on July 24, 2026 — the third confrontation between China and the Philippines in a single week, following the July 20 baton incident at Second Thomas Shoal and the July 23 water cannon incident blocking a fisher resupply mission. The Philippine government said the string of incidents amounted to "repeated aggressive, unprofessional and illegal" actions by China. China Coast Guard said it "drove away" Philippine vessels it accused of "intruding" into waters near the shoal. The clashes prompted the US, Japan and the Philippines to conduct joint maritime drills in the South China Sea through July 25.