Overview

• China’s military said it mobilized assets to monitor and drive out the USS Higgins after deeming it in violation of its sovereignty.
• The US Navy denies any infringement, stating Higgins remained on course for routine freedom-of-navigation operations in international waters.
• USS Higgins and USS Cincinnati were observed roughly 30 nautical miles from the reef as a Chinese warship maintained continuous surveillance.
• The incident follows a recent collision between two Chinese vessels while they pursued a Philippine Coast Guard ship using a water cannon.
• Chinese ships later executed search-pattern maneuvers indicating possible personnel overboard, though casualty status remains unclear.