A collision between two Chinese vessels in the South China Sea was predictable due to aggressive tactics by China's military and coast guard. China commonly employs close-range intercepts and water cannon harassment in contested waters, raising the chances of accidents. The incident occurred when a Chinese Navy destroyer collided with a coast guard cutter while pursuing a Philippine patrol ship. This collision resulted in significant hull damage and left the coast guard vessel unseaworthy, reflecting a pattern of reckless behavior by China in these waters.
It is part of China's standard operating procedure to intentionally engage in unsafe behavior and create risks of collision at sea and in the air, said Gregory Poling.
The Philippine Coast Guard witnessed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel in hot pursuit of their patrol ship, spraying water cannons while navigating dangerously close.
Video evidence displayed both Chinese vessels with significant hull damage, yet only the coast guard cutter was effectively crippled after the collision.
Chinese actions in the South China Sea have consistently raised the risk of collisions due to aggressive tactics such as blocking runs and close-range intercepts.
Collection
[
|
...
]