Chinese Navy Destroyer and Coast Guard Cutter Collide Near Scarborough Shoal (VIDEO)

Tensions in the South China Sea escalated sharply on Monday when a Chinese guided-missile destroyer and a China Coast Guard cutter collided during an attempted blockade of Philippine Coast Guard ships near Scarborough Shoal.

The incident, which occurred roughly ten nautical miles from the disputed maritime feature, is being described as one of the most serious mishaps between Chinese forces to date.

According to Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, the confrontation began after Philippine patrol vessels responded to reports of harassment and “hazardous maneuvers” by Chinese ships against Filipino fishing boats operating in the area.

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The Philippine vessels — BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) and BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) — were escorting fishing carrier MV Pamamalakaya and 35 local fishing boats as part of the government’s Kadiwa Operation, an initiative aimed at supporting and empowering coastal communities in the country’s western exclusive economic zone.

Philippine crews successfully evaded a water cannon attack on the BRP Suluan before Chinese forces escalated the encounter.

The China Coast Guard cutter 3104 — a former People’s Liberation Army Navy 056-class corvette — pursued the Philippine ship alongside the PLAN 052D-class guided-missile destroyer Guilin (164). In what Tarriela called a “risky” maneuver, the two Chinese vessels collided while attempting to intercept the Filipino patrol ship.

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The Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen, has been a flashpoint in the South China Sea for years, with both Manila and Beijing claiming sovereignty. This latest collision underscores the increasing volatility of the contested waters and raises fears of a potential escalation between Chinese and Philippine forces.

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