A Chinese warship collided with one of its coast guard vessels in the South China Sea on Monday as both ships were pursuing a Philippine coast guard vessel.
Dramatic video of the incident near the disputed Scarborough Shoal posted on social media showed the Chinese coast guard cutter suffering a crushed bow.
Philippine coast guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela called the Chinese collision “reckless.”
The Philippine coast guard has consistently urged the Chinese government to respect a 1972 convention designed to prevent collisions at sea and “to approach these matters with professionalism, especially considering their role in enforcing maritime laws,’ he stated on X.
“We have also emphasized that such reckless behavior at sea could ultimately lead to accidents,” Cdre. Tariella said. “Our thoughts are with the CCG personnel who may have been injured in this incident.”
The two Chinese vessels rammed each other as their intended target, a Philippine coast guard vessel, sailed out of the way in what appeared to be a pincer harassment attack, according to video footage recorded by the Philippine crew and released Monday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made no mention of the collision in a statement on X claiming Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao and asserts as its territory.
“On August 11, the Philippines sent multiple Coast Guard vessels, official vessels and so-called fishing vessels to intrude into the territorial waters of #HuangyanDao, and in the meanwhile, #Philippine military aircraft also intruded into the air space of Huangyan Dao,” Mr. Lin said.
“The Philippines’ moves seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, and seriously harmed peace and stability at sea. These moves are of a malign nature.”
Mr. Lin said it is legitimate and lawful for China to do what is necessary to safeguard sovereignty and maritime rights.
He also accused the Philippines of conducting provocative activities that are a cause for tensions.
“China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocative activities at once and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve to safeguard our lawful rights and interests,” he said.
Scarborough Shoal is a disputed atoll claimed by China, the Philippines and Taiwan and one of several Spratly Islands where China and the Philippines have been locked in maritime confrontations.
The collusion also occurred the same day Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reacted to Beijing’s accusations that he was “playing with fire” over comments he made on a possible future war over Taiwan.
Video footage of the collision showed the Chinese coast guard ship, Pennant Number 3104, chasing the Philippines coast guard vessel Suluan at high speed while firing a water cannon.
As the cutter neared the Philippine ship, a People’s Liberation Army guided missile destroyer entered from the right and rammed the front of the Chinese cutter.
Damage to the PLA warship was not clearly visible, but the front of the coast guard cutter appeared to be severely crumpled.
Cdre. Tarriela said the Philippine coast guard had offered assistance to the Chinese vessels.
China’s coast guard said in a statement Monday that its vessels had expelled Philippine vessels from waters around Scarborough Shoal.
No information has yet been released by Beijing regarding casualties. But the video footage from just seconds before the collision shows Chinese coast guard personnel standing in the bow desperately attempting to deploy a fender between the cutter and the destroyer in a bid to prevent damage.
The Chinese warship with the pennant number 164 as the Guilin, a 052D-class guided missile destroyer, assigned to Beijing’s southern fleet.
Prior to the collision, Philippine coast guard patrol vessels were responding to reports of harassment and “hazardous maneuvers” near the shoal, according to a Cdre. Tarriela.
Two Philippine vessels, the BRP Teresa Magbanua and the Suluan were escorting a fishing carrier, the MV Pamamalakaya, and 35 local fishing vessels in support of Manila’s Kadiwa Operation, a government-led initiative designed to support and empower fishing communities in the country’s western exclusive economic zone, reported the USNI News, the website for the U.S. Naval Institute.
The Chinese failed to reach the Suluan with water cannon after the vessel maneuvered away, according to a Philippine press release.
Beijing’s Friday warning to Mr. Marcos, via a Foreign Ministry statement, came after he said during a visit to India that the Philippines “could not stay out of” a war over Taiwan due to geographical proximity and due to the large number of Philippine residents of the democratic island.
Speaking Monday, Mr. Marcos said China had “misinterpreted” him.
The Chinese collision comes as tensions remain high between Beijing and Manila, a key U.S. regional ally.
Recent confrontations between the two nations’ navies and coast guards have included water cannon firings by China in a bid to prevent Philippine support for fishing vessels.
China also harassed Philippine resupply ships sent to support a grounded ship used as a military base near Second Thomas Shoal.
In June 2024, a clash between Philippine soldiers and Chinese coast guard personnel at Second Thomas Shoal resulted in a Filipino soldier losing his thumb.
A February 2023 incident involved a Chinese coast guard vessel firing a laser at a Philippine coast guard vessel near Second Thomas Shoal.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.
• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.