China lashed out at the United States, accusing it of using the Philippines as a pawn after Chinese Coast Guard ships harassed and sideswiped Philippine vessels near Sandy Cay on 22 May.

The ships, conducting scientific research, were blasted with water cannons.

Beijing called the mission “illegal,” ignoring Manila’s claim to the waters.

The clash, raw and performative, exposed again the cost of standing near Washington. And the price of defying Beijing.

“The Philippines, despite China’s dissuasion, has repeatedly sent people to illegally step on Tiexian Jiao, which is part of China’s Nansha Qundao,” she said.

“That severely infringes on China’s sovereignty, and violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. China’s response is fully necessary, legitimate and lawful,” she added.

Mao called on the Philippines to “immediately stop its infringement activities and provocations,” warning of a “resolute response” if the actions persist.

“The US should refrain from using the Philippines to create trouble in the South China Sea and stop undermining peace and tranquillity in the South China Sea,” she said.

On Thursday, BFAR condemned what it called “aggressive interference” by the China Coast Guard against its vessels—BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya—which were on a regular research mission in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, BFAR reported that MMOV 3002 sustained damage to its port bow and smokestack after being hit by water cannon and sideswiped by a CCG vessel, putting the safety of its personnel at risk.

“The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources condemns the aggressive interference by the China Coast Guard against two Philippine civilian vessels,” the BFAR said.

“This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-asa Cays.”

Sandy Cay, also known as Bailan Island, is a cay on the north edge of the Tizard Ban of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. It is about five nautical miles from Pag-asa Island in Barangay Pag-asa, Kalayaan, Palawan.

Aside from the Philippines and China, the feature is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

China claims the vast South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. Recently, confrontations between the Philippine Coast Guard and China Coast Guard and militia vessels have significantly increased.

In 2016, the Philippines won a landmark arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The ruling invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea.

China has rejected the award, calling it “illegal, null and void.”