Chinese Navy Warship Slams Own Coast Guard in High-Seas Pursuit
In one of the more bizarre turns in the long-running South China Sea tensions, a Chinese Navy destroyer has ended up smashing into one of its own coast guard vessels during a chase involving a Philippine patrol boat. The dramatic collision happened near the contested Scarborough Shoal, where Philippine ships were escorting aid deliveries to local fishermen.
Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows the surreal moment: the China Coast Guard ship, hull number 3104, speeding after the smaller Philippine vessel BRP Suluan, with the much larger Chinese destroyer “Guilin” — a 7,500-ton guided-missile warship — closing in. Then, with a loud crash, the two Chinese ships collide, leaving the coast guard vessel’s bow crumpled inward and rendered unseaworthy.
According to Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard, the coast guard ship had been performing aggressive maneuvers to cut off the Philippine vessel when the PLA Navy destroyer’s risky turn brought the two into direct contact. Just before impact, several crew members were spotted on the Chinese ship’s bow — raising concerns about possible injuries, though no casualties have been confirmed.
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Earlier in the incident, the BRP Suluan had been blasted with water cannons but managed to evade damage. Offers of assistance from the Philippine side to the stricken Chinese vessel reportedly went unanswered.
Beijing has acknowledged a “confrontation” took place but avoided confirming any collision. Its foreign ministry insisted Chinese vessels were acting to defend sovereignty in waters it claims, even though an international tribunal has ruled those claims have no legal basis.
Military analysts have called the incident a serious embarrassment for China, pointing out that deploying such a powerful warship for what is essentially law enforcement work is “overkill.” Normally, PLA Navy destroyers stay over the horizon, ready to support — not physically engage alongside — coast guard ships. Experts suggested the collision was the result of an overly aggressive maneuver gone wrong, lacking the necessary coordination and seamanship.
The Scarborough Shoal has been a flashpoint since 2012, when China seized effective control. The Philippines considers it within its exclusive economic zone, and its president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has vowed that Philippine patrols will continue. He has also warned that the death of a Filipino sailor in such confrontations could be treated as an “act of war” — a statement with major implications given the Philippines’ mutual defense treaty with the United States.
In the end, the collision damaged two Chinese ships but could have been far worse. Had the destroyer struck the Philippine vessel instead, experts say it might have caused fatalities and triggered a far larger international crisis — something no one in the region can afford right now.
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