Manila, July 24 -- Days after the Quad Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific during their meeting in Manila, tensions in the South China sea intensified after the Chinese Coast Guard deployed water cannons and undertook dangerous manoeuvres against Philippine vessels near Bajo de Masinloc (BDM).

According to a statement posted on X by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, tensions escalated on Friday after the China Coast Guard (CCG) carried out multiple water cannon attacks and dangerous manoeuvres against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels conducting maritime operations near B...