Moment Chinese ships CRASH while tailing Filipino boat in South China Sea
Chinese Warship Slams Into Own Coast Guard Vessel During Pursuit of Philippine Ship, Manila Says
A Chinese warship collided with its own coast guard vessel on Monday while the latter was chasing a Philippine ship in the South China Sea, according to Manila.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the incident occurred as Philippine officials were delivering aid to fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese coast guard allegedly executed a “risky manoeuvre” that left the warship’s forward deck heavily damaged.
Beijing acknowledged a confrontation but accused the Philippines of “forcibly intruding” into Chinese waters—without mentioning any collision.
The South China Sea remains a flashpoint in territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines, and several other nations. Relations between Manila and Beijing have soured sharply in recent years, with both sides accusing the other of aggressive tactics—sometimes involving weapons like swords, spears, and knives.
Scarborough Shoal, seized by China in 2012, is a recurrent hotspot. Footage released by Manila shows a Chinese coast guard ship firing water cannons at a Philippine vessel before abruptly veering into a much larger Chinese warship, producing a loud crash.
The impact rendered the warship “unseaworthy,” Tarriela said, though no injuries were confirmed. He reiterated Manila’s calls for China to follow international maritime conventions and warned that “reckless behaviour at sea could ultimately lead to accidents.”
China’s coast guard maintained it acted “in accordance with the law” and took “all necessary measures” to repel Philippine ships.
The clash is the latest in a series of high-risk encounters over the past two years as both countries press their claims in contested waters.
