Chinese Pursuit of Philippine Patrol Boat Ends in Deadly Collision | WATCH

Tensions in the South China Sea escalated sharply on Monday when a Chinese Navy warship collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel during a high-speed pursuit of a Philippine patrol boat near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

The incident, captured on video by the Philippine Coast Guard, occurred during a humanitarian mission to deliver aid to Filipino fishermen. According to reports from Manila, the Chinese Coast Guard ship CCG 3104 was chasing the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Suluan when it made a dangerous maneuver, slamming head-on into a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the collision caused “significant damage” to the Chinese vessel, rendering it inoperable. Moments earlier, the BRP Suluan — escorting aid distribution boats — had evaded a Chinese water cannon attack. Tarriela noted that the Chinese crew “never responded” to offers of assistance from the Philippine side after the crash.

Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu confirmed the encounter but conspicuously avoided mentioning the collision. He claimed the Chinese side had taken “necessary measures in accordance with the law, including tracking, external pressing, blocking, and controlling” the Philippine vessel to drive it away.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a firm statement following the incident, declaring that Philippine vessels will continue to operate in the area “to defend and enforce Manila’s sovereign rights.”

Scarborough Shoal — a contested chain of reefs and rocks — has been a persistent flashpoint since China took control of it in 2012. The South China Sea remains one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, with more than 60% of global trade passing through its waters.