Two Chinese navy boats have smashed into each other while chasing a Philippines-flagged patrol boat. Footage filmed by the Philippine Coast Guard on Monday (11 August) shows a Beijing warship accidentally crashing into the smaller coast guard vessel with a loud bang. The Philippines said that their boat was distributing aid to fishermen in Scarborough Shoal, a contested reef in the South China Sea, when the Chinese coast guard started pursuing them at “high speed”. Commodore Jay Tarriela said that the Chinese smaller ship then performed a “risky manoeuvre” which led to “substantial damage” to the warship’s upper deck, leaving it “unseaworthy”. China said that a confrontation took place but did not specifically mention the collision.

Incident is latest in series of confrontations between Beijing and Manila in South China Sea

MANILA: A Chinese navy vessel collided with one from its coast guard while chasing a Philippines patrol boat in the South China Sea, Manila said Monday, releasing dramatic video…