Chinese ships collide during clash with Philippine coastguard in contested South China Sea

China’s coastguard said on August 11, 2025, that it took “necessary” measures to expel Philippine vessels from a contested feature in the South China Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard has released footage that allegedly shows two Chinese vessels colliding during the operation, leaving one heavily damaged. The Chinese coastguard said in a statement that they forced several Philippine coastguard and government vessels away from waters near Scarborough Shoal, known to China as Huangyan Island, after they “ignored repeated warnings from the Chinese side and insistently intruded into the waterway”.