Chinese vessels collide while pursuing Philippine boat in South China Sea: Manila
The incident occurred near the contested Scarborough Shoal as the Philippine coast guard escorted boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area, spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement.
Video released by Manila showed a China Coast Guard ship and a much larger vessel bearing the number 164 on its hull colliding with a loud crash.
"The (China Coast Guard vessel) CCG 3104, which was chasing the (Filipino coast guard vessel) BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the (Philippine) vessel's starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy warship," Tarriela said.
"This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy," he said.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The reported collision is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.
More than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway.
The Scarborough Shoal - a triangular chain of reefs and rocks - has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.
It was unclear if anyone was hurt in Monday's incident.
Tarriela told AFP the Chinese crew "never responded" to the Filipino ship's offer of assistance.
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Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
Chinese fighter ‘intercepts' Philippine plane over disputed shoal, Manila says
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Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Straits Times
Chinese vessels collide while pursuing Philippine boat in South China Sea
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Video released by Manila showed a China coast guard ship and a much larger vessel bearing the number 164 on its hull colliding with a loud crash. MANILA – A Chinese navy vessel collided with one from its coast guard while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea on Aug 11, Manila said, releasing dramatic video footage of the confrontation. The incident occurred near the contested Scarborough Shoal as the Philippine coast guard escorted boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area, spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. Video released by Manila showed a China coast guard ship and a much larger vessel bearing the number 164 on its hull colliding with a loud crash. Additional footage and photos released later by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the stricken Chinese vessel still afloat but with its entire bow crumpled inward. 'The (China coast guard vessel) CCG 3104, which was chasing the (Filipino coast guard vessel) BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the (Philippine) vessel's starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA (People's Liberation Army) navy warship,' Mr Tarriela said. 'This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy.' At a later press briefing, Mr Tarriella said that crew members aboard the smaller Chinese vessel had been visible in its front section just before the collision. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore banks face headwinds in rest of 2025, but DBS is pulling ahead: Analysts Asia Southern Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Podul's arrival, hundreds of flights cancelled Business Singtel Q1 profit soars 317.4% to $2.9 billion on exceptional gains of $2.2 billion Asia Diamonds, watches and shoes: Luxury items at heart of probe into South Korea's former first lady World AI eroded doctors' ability to spot cancer within months in Lancet study Singapore Yishun man admits to making etomidate-laced pods for vaporisers; first Kpod case conviction Sport New Hui Fen becomes first Singaporean bowler to win PWBA Tour Player of the Year Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story '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,' he told reporters. Mr Tarriela said the Chinese crew 'never responded' to the Philippine ship's offer of assistance. Mr Gan Yu, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson, confirmed that a confrontation had taken place without mentioning the collision. 'The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away,' he said in a statement. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm or deny the collision when asked about it by AFP. The Aug 11 incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. More than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway. Speaking at a morning news conference, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said the country's patrol vessels would 'continue to be present' in the area to defend, as well as exercise Manila's sovereign rights over, what it considers to be part of its territory. The Scarborough Shoal – a triangular chain of reefs and rocks – has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Earlier in the confrontation, the BRP Suluan was 'targeted with a water cannon' by the Chinese but 'successfully' evaded it, Mr Tarriela's statement said. AFP
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
Manila says Chinese vessels collided while pursuing Philippine boat in South China Sea
Beijing and Manila have clashed in the South China Sea, after a Chinese coast guard ship reportedly expelled Philippine vessels from the contested Scarborough Shoal. Manila, however, reported a collision between the China Coast Guard and a Chinese navy vessel, with the former pursuing a Philippine patrol boat. China's Coast Guard made no mention of the collision, but confirmed there had been confrontation. Buena Bernal reports from Manila.
