China Ramps Up Pressure on the Philippines — and Strikes a Blow Against Itself

China’s efforts to harass the Philippines have suffered a significant setback. On August 11, a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel collided with a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship while attempting to harass a Filipino supply vessel in the waters around Scarborough Shoal.

The incident highlights China’s growing aggression within the South China Sea targeting U.S. treaty allies as a counter to strengthened political and military ties between Manila and Washington.

Collision Occurred Between 2 Major Chinese Vessels

Video captured of the incident appears to show the CCG vessel chasing a Filipino vessel before ramming into the forecastle of the PLAN guided missile destroyer attempting an intercept. The collision, which senior Filipino politicians alleged killed two Chinese personnel, shattered the bow of the CCG ship while leaving the PLAN vessel with significant damage. There have been no reported casualties among any Filipino personnel involved in the incident, who had been delivering aid to a Filipino fishing fleet stationed 140 miles away from the island of Luzon.

The accident reveals the intensity of China’s efforts to harass Filipino ships operating within the region — the CCG vessel, which the PLAN had previously used as a light frigate, is far larger than the fleet’s standard patrol vessels. The crash also comes nearly a year after several CCG vessels collided with Filipino supply ships off the waters of the contested Spratly Islands and several months after the CCG temporarily landed on Sandy Cay, an unoccupied reef close to Filipino military outposts.

China Continues to Escalate Tensions in the South China Sea

China and the Philippines have continuously clashed over competing sovereignty claims within the South China Sea, particularly over access to several island features that offer significant economic and military value. Looking to extend its influence and access valuable undersea resources, Beijing has aggressively sought to expand its reach within the region, including by dispatching more frequent military and maritime militia patrols that have often devolved into conflict with Filipino forces.

China has also sought to maintain control over the Scarborough Shoal as a possible counter to American or allied military involvement in a Taiwan-related contingency. As the Philippines has given the United States access to more bases located within the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait, China has stepped up its efforts to counter these deployments by controlling possible landing strips and missile bases within range of Manila.

Washington and its Regional Allies and Partners Should Increase Support to Manila

The collision between the CCG and PLAN vessels highlights China’s heightened presence in the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal, indicating a possible interest in militarizing the feature to further undermine international law, threaten the Philippines, and disrupt U.S. deterrence efforts.

In response, the United States and the Philippines should conduct a joint patrol of the Scarborough Shoal as they have done following previous ramming efforts in the Spratly Islands. Washington should also sanction key CCG leaders involved in the incident and issue a joint statement with its regional allies and partners in support of international maritime law.

Jack Burnham is a research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Miles Kershner is an intern. For more analysis from the authors and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Jack on X @JackBurnham802. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.