A Chinese Coast Guard cutter and a guided-missile destroyer collided on Monday in the South China Sea during an attempted blockade of Philippine Coast Guard vessels, marking one of the most serious mishaps among Chinese forces in recent years.
The clash occurred about ten nautical miles off Scarborough Shoal as Philippine patrol ships BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Suluan escorted fishing vessel MV Pamamalakaya and 35 local boats under the government’s Kadiwa Operation, which supports fishing communities in the country’s western exclusive economic zone.
According to Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, Chinese forces attempted to water-cannon Suluan but failed after the Philippine crew maneuvered clear. The China Coast Guard cutter 3104, a former Jiangdao-class corvette, then pursued Suluan alongside the PLAN destroyer Guilin (164) in what Tarriela called a “risky” chase.
Video released by Manila shows the cutter smashing into the destroyer’s bow as Guilin moved to block the Philippine vessel.
The impact left 3104’s bow heavily damaged and “unseaworthy,” according to the PCG. Philippine personnel reportedly offered assistance for possible man-overboard recovery and medical aid, though casualties remain unconfirmed.
Despite the incident, Teresa Magbanua continued the mission, resupplying local fishing boats with fuel and provisions. The Philippine Department of National Defense condemned the collision as “atrocious and inane behavior,” pledging full support for PCG personnel in contested waters.
Ray Powell of Stanford University’s SeaLight Project called the presence of a Chinese Navy ship in the maneuver “striking,” noting it reflects Beijing’s increasingly aggressive attempts to enforce its claims well beyond any legal territorial sea. Ben Lewis of PLATracker said the destroyer’s involvement signaled a “hardened stance” against Manila’s access to the shoal.
Scarborough Shoal, seized by Beijing in 2012 after a tense standoff, lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but is claimed by China under its “ten-dash line.”
The shoal has become a flashpoint for repeated confrontations, including a June harassment incident involving Chinese water cannons.
Beijing maintains that Philippine activities in the area threaten “peace and stability,” urging Manila to stop “provocations” and seek dialogue. Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, however, said the country “will not back down” in defending its territory.
