Overview

• Two Chinese coast guard vessels collided on August 11 during a high-speed interception of the Philippine patrol ship BRP Suluan near Scarborough Shoal.
• One ship, the CCG 3104, sustained severe bow damage and has been declared unfit for further operations.
• The Philippine Coast Guard released video footage of the incident, condemned the dangerous maneuvers and offered medical and technical assistance to the Chinese crew.
• China’s state media quoted a coast guard spokesperson describing the actions as professional and legitimate expulsions of Philippine vessels.
• The episode follows a pattern of close-quarters confrontations since a 2016 arbitration ruling and raises fresh diplomatic and operational concerns over South China Sea claims.