A Chinese navy warship and a China Coast Guard vessel slammed into each other in a high-speed chase with a Philippine patrol boat near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, Manila revealed on Monday — releasing dramatic video of the clash.
Footage shows the two massive ships — one clearly marked “164” — colliding with a deafening crash as the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Suluan attempted to escort aid boats to Filipino fishermen.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the coast guard vessel CCG 3104 had been pursuing the Suluan at dangerous speed when it swerved into the path of the People’s Liberation Army warship. The impact tore open the coast guard ship’s bow, leaving it “unseaworthy,” Tarriela claimed.
Earlier in the day, the Chinese had blasted the Philippine vessel with water cannons — but failed to halt its mission.
Beijing Admits Confrontation — But Not the Crash
Chinese officials acknowledged the tense encounter, saying they took “necessary measures” to drive away Philippine vessels, but avoided mentioning the collision itself.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed his country’s ships would “continue to be present” in Scarborough Shoal and never retreat, dismissing calls for escalation but warning that the nation would defend its territory and sovereign rights.
Senators in Manila mocked Beijing’s misfortune, with Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada calling it “a classic case of reaping what one sows.”
The Scarborough Shoal — seized by China in 2012 despite an international court ruling against Beijing’s claims — has long been a flashpoint between the two nations. Monday’s crash is the latest in a string of confrontations in the resource-rich waters, through which more than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes.
