Overview

• A PLA Navy destroyer and a China Coast Guard cutter collided on Aug. 11–13 while pursuing the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Suluan, severely damaging the cutter’s bow.
• On Aug. 13, the US Navy dispatched USS Higgins and USS Cincinnati to conduct a Freedom of Navigation operation near Scarborough Shoal, prompting China’s claim of having expelled the destroyer and a US denial.
• The Philippine Coast Guard reported a PLA fighter jet intercepted its surveillance plane as close as 200–500 feet, underscoring the risk of dangerous aerial encounters.
• Diplomatic missions from Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada publicly urged restraint and respect for international maritime law after the collision and US deployment.
• Manila and Washington are exploring further security measures, including possible missile deployments, to strengthen deterrence in the South China Sea.