Dramatic footage shows the terrifying moment two Chinese vessels smashed into each other while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea. The navy and coastguard ships collided today near the contested Scarborough Shoal, an atoll around 140 miles east of the main Philippine island of Luzon and more than 500 miles southeast of Hong Kong.

A China Coast Guard ship barreled into a Chinese navy destroyer on Monday as the two vessels chased a Philippine coast guard ship in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. https://t.co/ROMVN3GCLG pic.twitter.com/OyRXPyI6rB

" The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 11, 2025