A Chinese warship collided with its own coast guard vessel on Monday, according to reports from the Philippines, during a tense encounter that illustrates the long-standing maritime conflicts in the South China Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that they were distributing aid to local fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal when the incident occurred. Commodore Jay Tarriela noted that the Chinese coast guard's "risky manoeuvre" caused significant damage to the warship’s forward deck.
China acknowledged a confrontation took place, accusing the Philippines of “forcibly intruding” into its waters, but did not comment on the collision itself. The Scarborough Shoal has been a contentious area for years, previously seized by China in 2012, leading to heightened tensions and mutual accusations of aggressive actions between the two nations.
Recent video evidence shared by the Philippine Coast Guard documented the Chinese vessel using water cannons against a Philippine ship before it careened into a much larger Chinese warship after making a sudden turn. The collision left the warship "unseaworthy," although it remains unclear if there were any injuries reported.
Philippine authorities have repeatedly urged the Chinese to adhere to international conventions governing territorial disputes, expressing concerns that reckless maritime behaviour could result in accidents. Conversely, China’s coast guard maintains that its actions are lawful and justified in protecting territorial integrity.
This incident follows a pattern of dangerous encounters in the area, with instances of Chinese coast guard vessels employing aggressive tactics against Philippine ships becoming increasingly common. Last December, for example, the Philippine government claimed a Chinese vessel had fired water cannons at one of its government ships and aggressively struck it. China refuted these claims, instead suggesting that Philippine vessels were behaving recklessly.
The situation has escalated to physical confrontations, with reports of Filipino soldiers engaging Chinese personnel wielding swords, spears, and knives in June 2024, which resulted in injuries, highlighting the escalating nature of this ongoing territorial struggle. The South China Sea conflict not only involves China and the Philippines but also raises questions about broader regional security and international maritime laws.
