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Manila released footage showing Chinese coast guard and navy destroyer ships colliding near Scarborough Shoal. The collision severely damaged the coast guard cutter, as captured by video.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to inquiries from Newsweek.
### Why It Matters
The clash occurred near Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground claimed by the Philippines. This area is one of many highly contested features in an ongoing territorial dispute that led to hospitalizations of several Philippine sailors last year.
China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, putting it at odds with overlapping claims from Manila and other neighbors. A Hague-based arbitral tribunal rejected China’s sweeping claims in a 2016 ruling that Beijing deems invalid.
### What Happened
Chinese ships had been attempting to block a joint Philippine Coast Guard–fisheries bureau mission delivering supplies to local fishermen near Scarborough Shoal, known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Island in China. The collision happened 10.5 nautical miles (12 miles) east of the shoal.
### Details
Chinese Coast Guard vessel CCG 3104, chasing a much smaller Philippine Coast Guard patrol boat BRP Suluan, turned right into the oncoming guided-missile destroyer Guilin. The impact left the bow of the smaller ship visibly crumpled and twisted.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela reported that CCG 3104 “performed a risky maneuver from the Philippine Coast Guard vessel’s starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the People’s Liberation Army Navy warship.” The damage rendered the CCG vessel unseaworthy. Following the collision, the Philippines offered assistance for man-overboard recovery and medical aid.
### Chinese Response
The Chinese coast guard accused the Philippine ships of intruding “under the pretext of delivering supplies to fishing boats,” while stating they took necessary measures to drive them away.
### Future Tensions
It is unusual for a Chinese warship to directly interact with Philippine forces. Analysts view Guilin’s actions as an escalation. The incident could mark the beginning of heavier PLAN involvement in the dispute or further escalation from China.
The Philippines will likely continue challenging Chinese maritime incursions into its exclusive economic zone, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated his pledge not to yield “one square inch” of Philippine-claimed waters.
