The Chinese coast guard, together with suspected militia ships, conducted a high-seas assault to block three Philippine fisheries vessels from the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The assault caused significant damage to the communication and navigation equipment of one of the Philippine ships. Suspected militia vessels used a long-range acoustic device that caused severe temporary discomfort to Filipino crew members. The Philippines and the United States condemned the aggressive actions by the Chinese coast guard and demanded that China uphold international law and respect Philippine sovereignty.