Chinese ships collided near Scarborough Shoal while pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard boat amid rising South China Sea tensions in August 2025.
On August 11, 2025, near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, two Chinese ships collided while pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel that was escorting aid boats for local fishermen. The exact time of the incident is unclear, but it occurred during the day. The disputed area is known as Bajo de Masinloc by the Philippines and Huangyan Dao by China. Two Chinese vessels attempted to block the Philippine boats delivering aid and used water cannons to drive away the Philippine Coast Guard patrol. During the chase, the smaller Chinese Coast Guard cutter CCG 3104 made a risky maneuver that caused it to crash into a larger Chinese Navy ship bearing hull number 164. The collision severely damaged the smaller cutter’s bow, making the vessel unfit for sailing. The Philippine Coast Guard offered assistance to any injured Chinese crew members, but the Chinese government did not respond or accept help. It remains uncertain whether crew members in the damaged section were rescued before the ...