Chinese Destroyer Smashes Into Own Coast Guard Ship While Pursuing Philippine Vessel
A Chinese Navy (PLAN) guided-missile destroyer collided with a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) cutter Monday while pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel.
In a news release, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the incident occurred about 10.5 nautical miles east of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the South China Sea, where the Philippine cutter BRP Suluan was delivering fuel and provisions to fishermen under the Kadiwa Operation.
According to the PCG, the CCG vessel 3104, while chasing BRP Suluan at high speed, made a sharp maneuver that caused it to collide with the PLAN destroyer Guilin.
Video footage released by PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela captures the incident.
The PCG said the collision caused severe damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, leaving it unseaworthy.
Following the collision, the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV 9701) safely escorted Filipino fishermen to a secure location, where they received fuel and essential supplies.
Despite the actions of the Chinese vessels, the PCG offered medical assistance for the injured CCG personnel and expressed hopes for their “swift recovery.” China neither acknowledged the offer nor confirmed any injuries.
The Philippine Department of National Defense later condemned the crash as “atrocious and inane behavior” by China.
While the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not address the incident during its Monday press briefing, its spokesperson criticized Philippine actions in the South China Sea, accusing Manila of infringing on Chinese sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the CCG said it acted “in accordance with the law” and took “all necessary measures” to expel the Philippine vessels.
The collision is the latest in a series of tense encounters over the past two years, as Beijing and Manila press their claims in the South China Sea. In December last year, the Philippines accused CCG of firing water cannons and “sideswiping” a government vessel during a patrol near Scarborough Shoal.
Just last February, a Chinese navy helicopter flew dangerously close to a Philippine patrol aircraft over the disputed Scarborough Shoal while it was on a routine low-altitude patrol.
