Authors: Chris Dayton, Ethan Connell
On August 11, 2025, a PLAN destroyer and a China Coast Guard cutter collided with each other in the waters around Scarborough Shoal during a close-quarters pursuit of a Philippine government vessel.
Above is a visualization highlighting the reported collision site and the floating barrier at the shoal, along with USS Higgins’ approximate 8/12/2025 position and estimated track derived from public AIS data.