Chinese Warship Collides with Own Coast Guard Vessel While Pursuing Philippine Boat in South China Sea
A Chinese warship crashed into one of its own coast guard vessels Monday while pursuing a Philippine patrol boat near the contested Scarborough Shoal, Philippine officials said, releasing dramatic video footage showing the Chinese vessel's bow completely caved in from the collision.
The incident occurred as the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Suluan escorted boats distributing aid to local fishermen in the disputed waters, according to coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela. Video released by Manila showed the Chinese coast guard ship CCG 3104 and a much larger Chinese navy vessel bearing hull number 164 colliding with a loud crash.
"The CCG 3104, which was chasing the BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky maneuver from the vessel's starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA Navy warship," Tarriela said in a statement Tuesday. "This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy."
Additional footage showed the stricken Chinese vessel still afloat but with its entire bow crumpled inward. Tarriela said crew members were visible in the front section of the smaller Chinese vessel just before the collision.
"We're not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision. But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition," he told reporters at a press briefing.
The Philippine Coast Guard offered assistance to the damaged Chinese vessel, but Tarriela said the Chinese crew "never responded" to the offer.
Before the collision, the BRP Suluan had been "targeted with a water cannon" by Chinese forces but "successfully evaded it," according to the Philippine statement.
Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu confirmed a confrontation had taken place but made no mention of the collision between the Chinese vessels.
"The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away," he said in a statement.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm or deny the collision when asked about it.
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The dramatic incident gained additional significance Tuesday when the BRP Suluan and its crew were honored in a ceremony at Pier 15 in Manila's Port Area. Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan led the awarding ceremony for the vessel that had been at the center of Monday's confrontation.
"You have proven that indeed we are the most durable point man in keeping the peace at sea," Admiral Gavan told the crew during the ceremony.
The BRP Suluan had been dispatched August 10 to conduct maritime patrols in waters near Bajo de Masinloc, the Philippine name for Scarborough Shoal. The vessel carried 43 personnel, including members of the Coast Guard Medical Service, Maritime Surveillance Team, Coast Guard Special Operations Force, and media representatives from GMA Network.
"Bravo Zulu everyone. There are lots of things to do, but always keep in mind that what you've done, you should always remain calm, you should always remain professional yet unyielding in the face of whoever they are," Admiral Gavan said at the ceremony.
The deployment was ordered under directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to safeguard the nation's maritime domain and protect Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine name for its portion of the South China Sea.
Admiral Gavan commended what he called the "bravery, selfless dedication, and sacrifices" of coast guard personnel in upholding safety and security within Philippine territory. He also recognized the West Philippines Sea Group for handling information operations and coordination during the maritime patrol.
Monday's collision marks the latest in an escalating series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Beijing claims almost the entire waterway despite an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that found the assertion has no legal basis under international law.
The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs and rocks located about 120 miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon, has been a particular flashpoint since China seized control of it from the Philippines in 2012. The feature sits well within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
More than 60% of global maritime trade passes through the disputed South China Sea, making the confrontations a concern for international commerce and regional stability.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, President Marcos said Philippine patrol vessels would "continue to be present" in the area to defend what Manila considers part of its territory and to exercise the country's sovereign rights.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Manila over multiple disputed features in the South China Sea. In recent months, Chinese and Philippine vessels have engaged in water cannon battles, ramming incidents, and standoffs at various reefs and shoals claimed by both nations.
The Philippines has increasingly publicized these encounters, releasing video footage and detailed accounts in what officials describe as transparency efforts. The strategy appears aimed at garnering international support for Manila's position while documenting what it characterizes as Chinese aggression.
China maintains that its actions in the South China Sea are lawful and that it is responding to what it calls Philippine provocation and illegal activities in Chinese territorial waters.
The collision between the Chinese vessels appears to be unprecedented in the ongoing disputes. Previous incidents have typically involved confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships, not accidents between vessels from the same country.
Maritime security experts said the incident highlights the risks of aggressive maneuvering in crowded waters, particularly when multiple vessels from the same fleet are operating in close proximity while pursuing foreign ships.
The damaged Chinese coast guard vessel's condition and the fate of any injured crew members remained unclear Tuesday. Neither Chinese authorities nor the Philippine Coast Guard had provided updates on casualties or rescue operations.
For the Philippines, the incident provided a propaganda victory, with officials using it to highlight what they describe as Chinese recklessness in the disputed waters. The timing of Tuesday's ceremony honoring the BRP Suluan crew appeared designed to emphasize the professionalism of Philippine forces compared to their Chinese counterparts.
The confrontation also underscores the growing boldness of Philippine operations in the disputed waters under President Marcos, who has taken a more assertive stance toward China compared to his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
As tensions continue to simmer in the South China Sea, Monday's unusual collision serves as a reminder of how quickly maritime confrontations can escalate and the potential for unintended consequences when military and paramilitary forces operate in close quarters in disputed territory.
The incident is likely to further complicate already strained relations between Beijing and Manila, with both sides certain to use it to support their competing narratives about who is responsible for rising tensions in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
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