Collision in the South China Sea Draws International Scrutiny

In a rare incident, a Chinese naval destroyer and a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship collided with each other near Scarborough Shoal while attempting to block a Philippine patrol boat. The crash has been widely discussed as an example of the hazards associated with close-quarters manoeuvres in contested waters and has prompted diplomatic reactions from Manila, Beijing, and the wider international community.

China vessels collided while chasing Philippine boat near Scarborough Shoal. Photo: PCG

The Collision and the Philippines’ Account

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), its vessel, the BRP Suluan, was conducting a mission to assist Filipino fishers in traditional fishing grounds near Scarborough Shoal, a maritime feature controlled by China since 2012 but claimed by the Philippines. Philippine officials released video footage showing a larger People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) destroyer, hull number 164, and a CCG vessel closely shadowing the Suluan.

At one point, the PLAN destroyer executed a sharp turn across the path of the Philippine vessel. The Suluan avoided the manoeuvre, but the Chinese destroyer struck the bow of the coast guard ship that had also been trailing the Philippine patrol.

The PCG reported that the CCG vessel sustained significant damage to its bow, rendering it temporarily unseaworthy, while the destroyer suffered dents and hull damage. Philippine officials stated they immediately offered assistance, including medical aid, but received no reply from the Chinese side.

The Philippines’ Department of National Defence and Armed Forces denounced what they described as unsafe behaviour. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson, said the collision demonstrated “dangerous and unprofessional conduct” and highlighted the risks of ignoring established international maritime regulations. General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the video evidence clearly indicated the PLAN vessel was responsible. He also noted the unusual deployment of a naval warship, which he argued marked an escalation in China’s presence against civilian patrol vessels.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed that Philippine vessels would maintain their presence in the area to uphold Manila’s sovereign rights under international law.

China's Response

China’s official statements avoided direct reference to the collision. A spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, Gan Yu, said Chinese vessels had taken “necessary measures” to respond to what Beijing described as “intrusions” by Philippine ships into Chinese territory. The statement made no mention of damage or casualties.

Chinese state media outlet Global Times later reported that the collision occurred because Chinese ships were forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting the Philippine vessel.

"The Chinese vessels have larger tonnage and faster speed. If they were to collide with the Philippine vessel 4406, it would almost certainly have resulted in the Philippine ship's destruction and casualties. In this incident, the Philippine vessel acted extremely unprofessionally, repeatedly making highly dangerous maneuvers. If the Chinese vessels had only considered their own safety and reduced risk, they could have chosen not to maneuver and directly collide with the Philippine Coast Guard vessel 4406. However, the Chinese vessels maintained professionalism, standards, and rational restraint throughout," said Yang Xiao, a Chinese maritime expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, in comments to the Global Times on Friday, August 15.

Ray Powell, director of SeaLight at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, claimed in an interview with the CNN that the PLA "destroyer could have struck the much smaller Philippine Coast Guard ship instead. This would have almost certainly resulted in injury and death - even the sinking of the Philippine vessel." 

"This precisely proves an obvious fact, when the Philippine vessel was provoking and potentially leading to a serious incident, the Chinese ships took proactive measures to avoid it," Yang said.

"The facts are very clear, it is the restraint of the Chinese side that has avoided serious conflicts and consequences, thereby maintaining regional stability. It is precisely the malicious provocations by the Philippine side that have created the risks for an extremely serious maritime crisis," Yang said. 

This account conflicted with Philippine video evidence. Analysts noted that Beijing’s omission of details about the damage to its own vessels appeared aimed at minimising public discussion of the incident.

The Chinese narrative framed the collision as a preventive measure to avoid hitting the Philippine vessel, but it made no mention of casualties. This was despite photos and videos from the aftermath clearly showing significant damage to the CCG ship.

In an interview with TVNZ Breakfast, Filipino geopolitical expert Richard Heydarian said two Chinese personnel on board had died in the collision.

The Philippine government rejected China’s account, with the Department of Foreign Affairs stating, “The Philippine government has no responsibility over the collision of two Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).”

International Community Reaction

The incident drew swift responses from the international community.

The United States, bound by a mutual defence treaty with the Philippines, condemned what it called reckless actions. US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson criticised the incident, and the US Navy deployed two ships — the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins and the littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati — near Scarborough Shoal. Washington framed the deployment as part of long-standing “freedom of navigation” operations intended to challenge expansive maritime claims. The Pentagon reiterated that the treaty would apply if Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft came under armed attack in the South China Sea.

Japan also expressed concern. Its ambassador to Manila stated Tokyo “upholds the rule of law and opposes actions that raise tensions.”

Australia released a statement noting the “dangerous and unprofessional conduct” seen in the incident and urged restraint, de-escalation, and adherence to international law.

New Zealand, while not a claimant in the South China Sea disputes, reiterated its support for a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. The New Zealand Embassy in Manila noted that unsafe manoeuvres increase risks to human life and regional stability. Wellington has consistently referred to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the framework for resolving disputes.

Statement released on August 13, 2025. Photo: Facebook

Analysts suggested the incident may strengthen New Zealand’s coordination with Australia and other partners on regional security issues.

In further remarks on TVNZ Breakfast, Heydarian described the situation as a "canary in a gold mine," highlighting the risks posed by China deploying a warship to Scarborough Shoal and conducting aggressive manoeuvres that could endanger lives. He also pointed to concerns over the so-called Third Island Chain, which encompasses the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand — areas he argued were not excluded from Beijing’s ambitions.

"If you look at one of the reasons why the Philippines and New Zealand are doubling down on our strategic cooperation including the negotiation on possible reciprocal access agreement because we don't see this as China flexing its muscles only in immediate adjacent waters, but as China that is trying to create a kind of new sphere of influence across atleast half of the Pacific ocean," he said.

He added, "A decade ago during meeting with [former US] President Obama and paramout [Chinese] President Xi Jinping talked about a kind of a 'condominium' a kind of like dominion between the United States and China across the Pacific, and we the smaller countries, mid-sized countries don't want that to happen. So what happens in the First Island Chain in the South China Sea and in Tawain [Strait] will inevetably also have implications in the southern Pacific."

Continuing Tensions at Sea and in the Air

The collision was part of a wider pattern of escalating encounters. Following the incident, the PCG conducted an aerial patrol of Scarborough Shoal, with journalists on board. During the flight, a Chinese fighter jet flew within approximately 200 feet of the Philippine plane. Philippine officials described the approach as unsafe.

The combination of naval and aerial encounters underscored the multi-domain nature of the standoff. Analysts said such activities form part of “grey-zone” tactics, in which China applies military and paramilitary pressure short of outright conflict.

The United States and the Philippines have stepped up joint patrols and exercises in response. Philippine officials argue these measures demonstrate commitment to protecting national rights while deterring further escalation.

Scarborough Shoal, which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but has been controlled by China since 2012, remains a long-standing flashpoint. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled against Beijing’s expansive “nine-dash line” claims in the South China Sea and affirmed the shoal as a traditional fishing ground accessible to all. China has not recognised the ruling and continues to restrict access for Filipino fishers.

-Asia Media Centre