A Chinese warship pursued a Philippine patrol vessel close to the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. In the process, it rammed its own coast guard ship. The collision has further inflamed tensions in the South China Sea, a region already embroiled in territorial controversies between China and the Philippines.
The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs and rocks located in the South China Sea. It has since become a flashpoint in the new Cold War after China took control of the shoal from the Philippines in 2012. Since 1997, Manila has claimed the shoal as its territory. At the same time, Beijing continues to enforce increasingly dubious claims over most of the South China Sea, despite an international tribunal ruling those claims legally baseless. This important waterway is just as important to the economic vitality and resilience of global maritime trade, with more than 60% of that trade passing through it!
The collision took place while the Philippine Coast Guard was escorting vessels delivering humanitarian assistance to domestic fishers in contested waters. Manila subsequently released video footage of a much larger Chinese vessel, marked with the number 164 on its hull, colliding into a smaller Chinese coast guard ship. This provocative gambit took place in the neighborhood of the Scarborough Shoal.
“The China Coast Guard vessel CCG 3104, which was chasing the BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the vessel’s starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA Navy warship” – Jay Tarriella
As for the second incident involving the Philippine PCG, 400 crew members aboard the smaller Chinese vessel were clearly, and suspiciously, visible before the collision according to PCG. Still, they wrote that the Chinese crew “failed to cooperate” and “never responded” when contacted to provide assistance in dealing with the crash.
At the same time, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos doubled down on his country’s resolve to stay in the Scarborough Shoal. He stressed that the patrol vessels would not be leaving the region. Their continued presence in Manila is critical for the defense and exercise of Manila’s sovereign rights over the contested territory.
“We’re not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision. But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition” – Jay Tarriella
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to confirm or deny specifics of the collision during press inquiries. The incident highlights a broader reality as both countries allow their national maritime claims and bilateral relations to become marred in this strategically important region.
Today, Scarborough Shoal continues to be a flashpoint in U.S.-Chinese diplomatic frictions. Both countries contend for its precious resources and geostrategic location. Incidents like this demonstrate the precariousness of maritime order even on the purportedly benign South China Sea. They further highlight the deep and persistent sovereignty challenges that the region still faces.