USS Higgins Sparks Fresh South China Sea Tensions Near Scarborough Shoal
Tensions in the South China Sea have taken a sharp turn upward after a rare U.S. Navy operation near the contested Scarborough Shoal set off a heated exchange between Washington and Beijing. The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins was reported to have sailed close to the shoal on Wednesday — the first known U.S. operation of its kind in at least six years. It came just one day after a dramatic collision between two Chinese vessels during an attempt to block a Philippine coast guard ship in the same waters.
According to China’s Southern Theatre Command, the USS Higgins had entered what Beijing considers its territorial waters “without approval.” Officials there accused the U.S. of seriously violating China’s sovereignty and undermining regional stability. In response, the U.S. Navy flatly rejected those claims, stating that the operation was fully in line with international law and part of its longstanding commitment to “freedom of navigation” in international waters. The Seventh Fleet said the Higgins had “asserted navigational rights and freedoms” and stressed that China’s objections would not deter such missions.
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The timing of the U.S. move is significant. Just days earlier, a Chinese navy destroyer and a Chinese coast guard ship collided while pursuing the Philippine vessel BRP Suluan near Scarborough Shoal. Video released by the Philippine coast guard showed one Chinese ship using water cannons while another maneuvered sharply, resulting in the crash. The damaged bows of both Chinese vessels were later visible in footage, though details on injuries or the condition of crew members were not confirmed.
Beijing accused the Philippines of intruding into its waters and ignoring warnings, while Manila countered that its ships were operating legally and supporting Filipino fishermen. Philippine officials even claimed they offered assistance to the Chinese crew after the collision.
International reaction was swift. Japan, Australia, and New Zealand voiced concern over what they called dangerous and unprofessional behavior by Chinese vessels. The Australian embassy in Manila emphasized the need for restraint and respect for international law, while Japan reiterated its opposition to actions that increase tensions in the region.
The Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground off the northwestern Philippines, is claimed by both Beijing and Manila — as well as being subject to overlapping claims from other Southeast Asian nations. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled against China’s expansive claims, but Beijing has refused to recognize the decision.
For Washington, the latest mission by the USS Higgins signals that freedom of navigation operations will continue, despite China’s objections. For Beijing, it is another reminder that the South China Sea remains a flashpoint where competing claims, national pride, and strategic interests collide — sometimes literally. And for the Philippines, the week’s events have underscored both the risks of confrontation and the importance of strong allies in these contested waters.
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