Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. China said the United States must refrain from "stirring up trouble" or taking sides on the South China Sea issue, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a security deal with the Manila extended to attacks on the Philippine coast guard. China is employing "gray zone tactics" against the Philippines at the contested Second Thomas Shoal reef, a move likely aimed at avoiding U.S. intervention in the region, according to Lowy Institute's Rahman Yaacob. Last week, Philippine officials said Chinese forces damaged the country's boats and injured several sailors near the Second Thomas Shoal — claimed by both Beijing and Manila — in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Gray zone tactics refer to "coercive actions that are shy of armed conflict but beyond normal diplomatic, economic, and other activities," according to Rand Corporation.

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Persons: Shoal, Antony Blinken, Lowy Institute's Rahman Yaacob, Thomas Shoal —, Yaacob Organizations: Guard, U.S, Manila —, Asia Program, Lowy Institute, Rand Corporation, Philippine Locations: Philippine, South China, China, United States, Manila, Philippines, Beijing, Spratly Islands, Yaacob, Asia, India