August 11, 2025

Hold your breath! The South China Sea saw a jaw-dropping event on August 11, 2025, when a Chinese Navy ship collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel while chasing a Philippine patrol boat near the contested Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine Coast Guard captured this thrilling moment on video and shared it with the world. The drama unfolded as the Philippines was escorting boats that were giving aid to local fishermen. Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, said the collision involved a large Chinese vessel numbered 164 crashing loudly into the Coast Guard ship CCG 3104. "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," said Mr. Tarriela. The crash badly damaged the Coast Guard ship's front, making it unfit to sail. Meanwhile, Gan Yu, a Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson, admitted a confrontation happened but did not mention any crash. He said, "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." This collision is just the latest twist in the ongoing high-drama showdown between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea. China claims nearly the entire sea despite international rulings denying such rights. Why does this area matter so much? More than 60% of the world's sea trade flows through these contested waters! Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos put it bluntly during a news briefing: The country’s patrol boats “will continue to be present” in the area to defend the nation’s rights and territory. Scarborough Shoal, a sharp triangle of reefs and rocks, has been a hot spot ever since China took control in 2012. The stakes are sky-high, and Monday's collision shows the risks when big powers clash on these tiny rocks. Thankfully, no clear news on injuries has come out yet. The Philippine side offered help after the crash, but the Chinese crew “never responded,” according to Mr. Tarriela. Earlier, the Filipino ship BRP Suluan was even “targeted with a water cannon” by the Chinese but cleverly escaped. With tensions bubbling and trade routes at stake, the Scarborough Shoal story is far from over. Where will the next chapter take us?

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Tags: South china sea, China, Philippines, Scarborough shoal, Navy collision, Territorial dispute,