Viral footage shows the moment a Chinese warship was left “unseaworthy” after ramming into its own coast guard ship while both were chasing a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea.
Philippine officials said their coast guard had been delivering aid to fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday when Chinese vessels moved in.
Commodore Jay Tarriela accused Beijing’s coast guard of a “risky maneuver” that inflicted “substantial damage” to the warship’s forward deck, according to the BBC.
Video captured by Filipino journalist Raffy Tima, who works for GMA News, appears to show a Chinese coast guard ship firing water cannons as it pursued a Philippine boat, before abruptly veering into the path of the larger Chinese warship, causing a loud and costly collision.
China confirmed a confrontation had taken place, but accused the Philippines of “forcibly intruding” into Chinese waters, without acknowledging the collision. Beijing’s coast guard insisted its crew acted “in accordance with the law” and took “all necessary measures” to push Philippine ships away.
The Scarborough Shoal, seized by China in 2012, has become a recurring stage for dangerous maritime standoffs. In recent years, encounters have escalated to include ramming, “sideswiping,” and, in one extraordinary clash, Chinese personnel armed with swords and spears confronted Filipino troops.
“We have also emphasised that such reckless behaviour at sea could ultimately lead to accidents,” Tarriela said, warning that China’s actions risk spiralling into a broader crisis.
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