Manila: Chinese maritime forces made a spectacle of themselves on Monday by nearly wrecking one of their own vessels in their zeal to chase down a Philippine Coast Guard patrol boat near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
The Scarborough Shoal, a chain of reefs and rocks in the South China Sea, has been a long-standing point of dispute between the two countries. China seized control of it in 2012, though the Philippines insists it lies within its Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Philippine Coast Guard released dramatic footage of the incident, showing how the high-speed chase ended up in a collision between two Chinese vessels. This apparently happened while the Philippine Coast Guard was escorting boats delivering aid to local fishermen in the area.
The video shows a Chinese Coast Guard ship and a larger navy vessel, marked with the number 164, colliding with a loud crash. Photos and additional footage later revealed that the coast guard vessel suffered major damage to its front section, with the bow crumpled inward.
Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr, speaking at a news conference on Monday, said his country’s ships would continue to patrol the area and uphold Manila’s sovereign rights.
Earlier in the confrontation, the BRP Suluan was targeted with a water cannon by the Chinese Coast Guard but managed to evade it successfully, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela claimed.
According to him, the Chinese Coast Guard ship, CCG 3104, was chasing the Filipino patrol vessel BRP Suluan at high speed when it suddenly manoeuvred from the starboard side, causing it to smash into the nearby Chinese warship.
“This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel’s forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy,” Tarriela said in a statement.
He added that crew members were seen on the front deck of the damaged Chinese coast guard vessel just before the crash. “We’re not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision. But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition,” he said.
Despite offers of help from the Philippine side, the Chinese crew “never responded”, Tarriela noted.
China’s Coast Guard confirmed there had been a confrontation but did not mention the collision. A spokesperson said Chinese vessels took “necessary measures” to monitor and drive away Philippine ships. This action included “pressing from the outside” and “blocking”.
