Story perspectives

China Fires Water Cannons, Lasers at Filipino Fishermen; Nations Decry

7/13/2026

Left

Philippines Confronts China

Filipino fisherfolk report shrinking fishing grounds and intimidation after China’s coast guard escalated confrontations.
Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons and lasers at Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea, raising security concerns.
Fourteen nations, United States and Japan, urged China to honor the 2016 award and UNCLOS.
Manila pursues diplomatic solutions while confronting Chinese pressure through sanctions and alleged espionage.

Right

Philippines Confronts China

Ambassador Lee Lipton and Finance Secretary Frederick Go unveiled plans for the AI-focused Pax Silica hub in New Clark City.
A 14-nation coalition issued a joint declaration on July 11 marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Hague ruling.
Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons and lasers at Philippine ships, raising security concerns.
The U.S. Embassy in Manila said Washington remains committed to supporting allies for an Indo-Pacific.

Center

China Rejects Award

China’s foreign ministry called the 2016 arbitration award “waste paper” and warned of a firm response.
A 14-nation coalition, including United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Philippines, issued a July 12, 2026 declaration confirming the 2016 award as final.
China’s ministry said the award is illegal, rejected third-party settlement and asserted rights under UNCLOS.
Recent Chinese coast guard water-cannon and laser attacks on Philippine vessels have heightened security concerns.

Blindspot

Center coverage highlighted China’s foreign ministry denouncing Japan’s backing of the 2016 arbitration award as a “piece of waste paper” and asserting the ruling is illegal, a detail left coverage gave less weight to.
Center coverage emphasized China’s legal rebuttal and claim of sovereign rights under UNCLOS, which right coverage did not include.

History

Historical Context

In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s historic “nine-dash line” had no legal effect under UNCLOS, affirming the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The award, backed by 26 governments, followed a 2013-14 arbitration sparked by the 2012 Scarborough Shoal clash. Chinese coast-guard water-cannon and laser incidents echo the unresolved dispute and push Manila toward deeper U.S. and Japanese security ties.

1 of 5

Philippines Confronts China

Filipino fisherfolk report shrinking fishing grounds and intimidation after China’s coast guard escalated confrontations.
Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons and lasers at Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea, raising security concerns.
Fourteen nations, United States and Japan, urged China to honor the 2016 award and UNCLOS.
Manila pursues diplomatic solutions while confronting Chinese pressure through sanctions and alleged espionage.

1 / 5