China slams 'dangerous move' by the Philippines after Chinese ship hits Chinese ship in South China Sea

A Chinese Navy vessel and a Chinese Coast Guard ship recently collided in the South China Sea while engaging with a Philippines Coast Guard vessel.

The incident occurred on Aug. 11 and was captured on video by personnel aboard the Philippines Coast Guard vessel the BRP Suluan.

In their first direct comment on the collision, China's defence ministry strongly condemned the Philippines Coast Guard vessel for "dangerous manoeuvring".

A South China Morning Post (SCMP) report further cited ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin as saying that Philippines Coast Guard vessels had "engaged in dangerous manoeuvres multiple times, such as high-speed ramming, sharp turns and crossing in front of Chinese vessels".

Jiang also said that several Philippines coast guard vessels and government ships had "illegally entered waters near China's Huangyan Island", the Chinese name for the shoal in question.

He however did not confirm if any collision took place, if it involved two Chinese ships, and whether there were any casualties.

According to SCMP, Jiang did say that Chinese ship personnel's safety had been "seriously jeopardised", and accused the Philippines of "seriously undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea".

Arbitration and lines

The Scarborough Shoal and other South China Sea islands and features have seen several confrontations between the PRC and the Philippines.

Water cannons and manoeuvres have become a staple of these interactions, as have face-to-face confrontations.

An incident in 2024 saw forces from both coast guards getting into a physical altercation, resulting in a Filipino sailor losing a thumb.

A Philippines armed forces video of the incident shows CCG personnel "harassing" PCG sailors, at one point even brandishing an axe.

Both countries claim ownership of the Scarborough Shoal, which is about 220 km from the coast of the Philippines, and about 800km away from China’s coast, although it is described by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies as "effectively controlled by China".

Through the “Nine-Dash-Line”, the PRC claims large parts of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal.

This claim has been disputed by the Philippines, which brought a case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013.

While the Court declined to rule on the sovereignty of the shoal, it denied the validity of the “Nine-Dash-Line”.

China declined to participate in the tribunal, saying that, among other things, it lacked jurisdiction.

Top image via Jay Tarriela/Facebook