Chinese ships use water cannons against Philippine ships. The Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels that were en route to Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea. The Chinese side first demanded to leave it, saying that Scarborough Reef was Chinese territory. The Filipinos ignored the warnings, insisting they were in their exclusive economic zone. In the disputed waters of the South China Sea, incidents periodically occur between the Philippines and China.