On September 16, 2025, tensions in the South China Sea erupted once again as Chinese and Philippine vessels collided near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint in the long-running maritime rivalry between the two nations. The incident, which involved the use of water cannons, resulted in significant damage to a Philippine fisheries vessel and left a crew member injured, according to multiple reports from Reuters, Associated Press, and other international outlets.
The confrontation unfolded as more than ten Philippine government ships approached Scarborough Shoal—known as Huangyan Island in China and Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines—from various directions. The Philippine Coast Guard said its ships were on a humanitarian mission to resupply over 35 fishing boats in the area, delivering essentials such as fuel, water, and ice. However, China’s Coast Guard accused the Philippine vessels of “illegally invading” its territorial waters and claimed that one Philippine ship deliberately rammed a Chinese vessel, prompting what it described as lawful enforcement measures.
According to a statement from Gan Yu, spokesperson for China’s Coast Guard, “The China coast guard lawfully implemented control measures against the Philippine ships.” These measures, as detailed by Reuters, included verbal warnings, route restrictions, and the firing of water cannons. Video footage released by the Chinese authorities showed the bow of Philippine vessel 3014 making contact with a Chinese ship, damaging part of the deck railing as water cannons were deployed at close range.
The Philippine Coast Guard, for its part, strongly denied China’s accusations and described the Chinese actions as “aggressive.” In a statement cited by AP, the Coast Guard reported that two Chinese Coast Guard ships hit the Filipino fisheries vessel BRP Datu Gumbay Piang with powerful water cannons for nearly 30 minutes. The barrage shattered a glass window in the captain’s cabin, injuring a crew member, and caused a short circuit that affected electrical outlets and five outdoor air-conditioning units. The Philippine Maritime Council dismissed China’s narrative as “another case of Chinese disinformation and propaganda.”
Adding to the chaos, the Philippine Coast Guard said a Chinese navy warship broadcast a radio notice announcing live-fire exercises at the shoal, which caused panic among Filipino fishermen operating nearby. The timing of the incident was particularly sensitive: just six days earlier, China had announced plans to designate part of Scarborough Shoal as a national nature reserve, a move that Manila swiftly condemned and protested through diplomatic channels.
The Philippine government, which refers to the shoal as Bajo de Masinloc, filed a formal diplomatic protest against China’s unilateral designation of the nature reserve. According to Devdiscourse, the declaration has drawn international criticism and heightened scrutiny of China’s intentions in the region. The shoal itself, a 150-square-kilometer triangular chain of reefs and rocks, sits inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone but has been effectively controlled by China since 2012.
This latest clash is far from an isolated event. China and the Philippines have repeatedly faced off around Scarborough Shoal and other contested outcroppings in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than $3 trillion in global trade passes annually. The sea is also home to rich fishing grounds and is claimed in whole or in part by several countries, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and, of course, China and the Philippines.
China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea are based on its so-called “nine-dash line,” which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of its neighbors. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims have no basis in international law—a decision Beijing continues to reject outright.
The recent escalation has drawn vocal reactions from the international community. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called China’s actions “yet another coercive move to advance sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea at the expense of its neighbors.” The United Kingdom and Australia also expressed concern on social media, while the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement opposing “attempts to use environmental protection as a way to take control over the disputed Scarborough Shoal.”
Diplomatic protests and expressions of solidarity with the Philippines have become increasingly common as China steps up its presence and activities in disputed waters. Analysts cited by Reuters suggest that Beijing’s move to declare the shoal a nature reserve is part of a broader strategy to claim the moral high ground, framing its actions as environmentally motivated while simultaneously consolidating its control over the territory.
Despite the simmering tensions and frequent incidents involving water cannons, boat-ramming, and close maneuvers between coast guard vessels, neither side appears willing to back down. The Philippines maintains that its activities at Scarborough Shoal are lawful and focused on supporting local fishermen, while China insists it is simply defending its sovereignty and enforcing its laws in what it considers its own waters.
For the fishermen who rely on these waters for their livelihoods, the geopolitical tug-of-war brings daily uncertainty and risk. The announcement of live-fire exercises by the Chinese navy at the shoal—broadcast over the radio during the latest encounter—sent waves of fear through the local fishing community, underscoring the human cost of the ongoing dispute.
Underlying all of this is the broader contest over sovereignty, fishing rights, and access to the South China Sea’s lucrative resources. With no resolution in sight and both sides trading accusations of provocation and aggression, the region remains a volatile flashpoint with the potential to draw in external powers and escalate into a larger crisis.
As the world watches, the events at Scarborough Shoal serve as a stark reminder of the fragile balance in the South China Sea and the high stakes for all involved—whether they are fishermen, diplomats, or national leaders. The latest collision may not have sparked open conflict, but it has certainly deepened the distrust and raised the temperature in an already hotly contested region.