A recent ship collision in the South China Sea has highlighted the dangers of China’s increasingly aggressive maritime tactics. The incident, which involved a Chinese destroyer and a Philippine coast guard vessel, is part of a growing pattern of behavior that experts say raises the risk of accidents and miscalculations.
China’s military, coast guard, and maritime militia have been accused of using tactics such as close-range intercepts, blocking runs, chases, and water cannon harassment to assert control over contested waters. These maneuvers make accidents like Monday’s crash more likely.
The collision was dramatic and predictable, with the Chinese destroyer violently slamming into the Philippine coast guard vessel. The incident occurred while the Chinese vessel was pursuing a Philippine patrol ship at high speeds, spraying water cannons in the process.
Experts say that China’s operational culture is to habitually violate international maritime safety regulations and norms of professionalism. This behavior has led to repeated incidents of harassment and confrontations between Chinese coast guard ships and foreign vessels.
The Philippines has documented numerous incidents of Chinese coast guard ships harassing its vessels, with some confrontations escalating to injuries among crew members. China’s actions have been characterized as “grey zone” tactics – operations that assert control without crossing the threshold into open conflict.
The latest incident stands out because it involved a Type 052D destroyer, a multi-role guided-missile ship, rather than the usual suspects. The Chinese Navy’s involvement suggests that Beijing is willing to risk high-value assets in front-line harassment roles.
While China has not made an official statement on the collision, the incident has raised concerns about the country’s willingness to reassess its tactics or avoid future clashes. Experts warn that if China doesn’t change its behavior, accidents could lead to fatalities and military escalation that no side wants.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/china-ship-crash-south-china-sea-long-time-coming-experts-2025-8