Hong Kong, August 19 (ANI): Two Chinese warships collided in the South China Sea on August 11, as Beijing escalated pressure on the Philippines. The incident occurred within 10 nautical miles of Scarborough Shoal, which lies inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but was illegally seized by China in 2012.
The collision involved the China Coast Guard (CCG) Type 056 corvette “3104” ramming bow-first into the side of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 052D destroyer Guilin (“164”). The crash stove in the corvette’s bow, where several Chinese coastguardsmen had been standing moments before. A subsequent grid search suggested that at least one, and possibly several, sailors were lost. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) offered to help, but China rejected the offer.
At the time, the Chinese vessels were chasing and harassing the much smaller BRP Suluan (“4406”) of the PCG. The Philippine ship had been responding to calls for help from local fishermen, who reported harassment by Chinese forces as part of Beijing’s blockade of Scarborough Shoal. The entire incident was captured on PCG video, preventing China from plausibly denying the facts. Nonetheless, Beijing suppressed the news domestically and used edited footage to push a false narrative internationally.
Chinese state media blamed the Philippines, with one commentator claiming Manila had “orchestrated” the collision. Philippine officials rejected this as absurd. The Department of National Defense condemned China’s actions as “atrocious and inane,” a view echoed by Australia, Japan, and the United States, which accused Beijing of reckless behavior at sea.
Ray Powell, Director of SeaLight at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center, highlighted eight critical points. He said the incident marked a “major escalation” in China’s gray zone conflict, noting that PLAN warships are now directly engaged in harassment operations previously led by coast guard and militia vessels. Powell also described it as the culmination of China’s long campaign to control Scarborough Shoal and a signal that Beijing will no longer tolerate Philippine vessels near the area.
The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration confirmed the shoal lies within the Philippine EEZ and that China had unlawfully blocked Filipino fishermen. PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela said Philippine patrols are fully legal under international law, while China’s actions blatantly violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Despite the collision, the Chinese destroyer continued pursuing the Philippine patrol ship, nearly ramming it as well. Powell said this highlighted both China’s “growing maritime militancy” and the PCG’s courage in the face of overwhelming odds, calling the PCG “perhaps the bravest coast guard on the planet today.”
Chinese propaganda sought to blame the Philippines and even demanded compensation. Analysts dismissed this as absurd, pointing to clear video evidence showing the Chinese ships recklessly chasing the smaller Philippine vessel. Powell warned the incident underscored how China’s belligerence risks triggering a wider conflict. Had the destroyer struck the Philippine ship, it could have killed many sailors and raised questions about invoking the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.
The US destroyer USS Higgins was in the vicinity days later, signaling Washington’s support. Tarriela stressed that Manila’s mission was humanitarian, assisting fishermen whose livelihoods are threatened by China’s blockade. He accused Beijing of “reckless seamanship” and blatant violations of international maritime rules.
The collision was an embarrassment for China, undermining its claims of professionalism at sea. Following the incident, CCG spokesperson Gan Yu insisted China’s actions were “professional, standardized and legitimate,” a statement widely dismissed as ironic given the circumstances.
The episode was the most serious in the South China Sea since June, when a Philippine sailor was severely injured by Chinese forces during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal. Analysts warn that after suffering a loss of face, Beijing may escalate further. Future clashes risk not only property damage but also loss of life, raising the stakes for Manila and its US ally. (ANI)
About The Author
