Chinese ships collide in South China Sea

A China Coast Guard ship was left with a heavily damaged bow after it hit a People’s Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer.

Dramatic footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the moment the collision took place, leaving the China Coast Guard ship missing a prominent part of its bow.

Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard said the incident occurred on Monday while personnel were distributing aid to Filipino fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, approximately 140 miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon.

Tarriela said a China Coast Guard vessel was chasing the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Suluan at “high speed” when the incident occurred. “Philippine vessels and fishermen encountered hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions,” Tarriela said.

He added that the Chinese navy ship then “performed a risky maneuver” which inflicted “substantial damage” to the China Coast Guard vessel’s forecastle, rendering the ship “unseaworthy.” #CNN #News