MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese coast guard ship and an accompanying vessel collided with a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-run supply boat on Sunday near a contested shoal in the South China Sea, according to Philippine officials. This incident has heightened concerns about the possibility of armed conflict in the disputed region.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the Filipino crew members, and an assessment of the damage to both vessels is currently underway.
The collisions occurred near Second Thomas Shoal, where China has repeatedly attempted to isolate a Philippine marine outpost. If the Filipino vessels had not been able to maneuver away from the Chinese ships quickly, the situation could have been much worse, according to an anonymous Philippine security official.
China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, including islands closer to the Philippine shore, have caused tensions and involved the United States, a longstanding treaty ally of the Philippines.
In response to the incident, the U.S. ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, expressed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “the United States condemns the PRC’s latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin shoal, putting the lives of Filipino service members at risk.” Carlson emphasized that the United States stands with its allies to protect Philippine sovereignty and support a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Chinese coast guard claimed that the Philippine vessels “trespassed” into what it considers Chinese waters “without authorization” despite repeated radio warnings, leading to the collisions. The Chinese coast guard blamed the Philippine vessels for causing the incidents and stated that their behavior violated international rules on avoiding collisions at sea, posing a threat to their navigation safety.
The Chinese authorities alleged that the Philippine ships were transporting “illegal construction” materials.
A Philippine government task force responsible for the South China Sea issue stated that the collisions took place as two Philippine supply boats, accompanied by two Philippine coast guard ships, were en route to deliver food and other supplies to the military outpost under Chinese blockade. The task force criticized the Chinese ships’ actions as a blatant disregard for the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and international regulations aimed at preventing sea collisions.
Near-collisions have occurred frequently as Philippine vessels transport supplies to Filipino marines and sailors stationed on the disputed shoal. However, this is the first time that Philippine officials have reported their vessels being struck by Chinese ships.
In the past, Chinese officials have downplayed claims that the Chinese vessels enforcing Beijing’s territorial claims were actually paramilitary ships disguised as fishing boats.
Despite the Chinese obstacles, one of the two boats managed to maneuver and successfully deliver supplies to the small contingent stationed on the marooned warship BRP Sierra Madre, according to the task force.
The South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest trade routes, and disputes involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei have become a flashpoint in the delicate fault line of U.S.-China rivalry in the region.
In early August, a Chinese coast guard ship used a water cannon on one of the two Philippine supply boats to prevent it from approaching Second Thomas Shoal. This action sparked outrage from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and led the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to issue a strong protest to the Chinese ambassador.
In response, Washington reiterated its obligation to defend the Philippines as a treaty ally.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Washington of “threatening China” by raising the possibility of activating the U.S.-Philippine mutual defense treaty. Beijing has repeatedly warned the U.S. not to interfere in regional territorial disputes.
The European Union ambassador to Manila, Luc Veron, described the incidents as “dangerous and very disturbing due to their recurrence and escalation.” The EU expresses support for the Philippines in calling for the full observance of international law in the South China Sea.
A 2016 arbitration ruling, established under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, invalidated Beijing’s historical claims to almost the entire South China Sea. China refused to participate in the arbitration requested by the Philippines, rejected the decision, and continues to defy it.
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Associated Press writer Huizhong Wu in Bangkok contributed to this report.
