Tensions spiked in the South China Sea after two Chinese vessels collided near the Scarborough Shoal while pursuing a Philippine boat. In the aftermath, the United States briefly deployed two warships close to the shoal—an unmistakable signal that freedom of navigation and regional stability are on the line.
What Just Happened
The collision: A Chinese navy destroyer and a China Coast Guard cutter struck each other during a high-speed maneuver aimed at blocking a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal. (AP, Business Insider)
