Tensions in the South China Sea intensified this week as two US Navy warships sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, just days after two Chinese vessels collided while pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the same area.
The USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer, conducted a Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) on Wednesday to assert international rights in waters claimed by China, the Philippines, and Taiwan. According to the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, the operation was conducted in accordance with international law.
China’s military accused the US of violating its territorial sovereignty, claiming it “expelled” the Higgins. However, US officials rejected the claim as “false,” emphasizing that the mission was lawful and necessary to preserve freedom of navigation.
🇨🇳🇵🇭 A Chinese navy ship collided with a Chinese Coast Guard cutter near Scarborough Shoal while chasing a Philippine patrol. The cutter was heavily damaged and left out of action. pic.twitter.com/xD8dXTTGYs
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 11, 2025
Philippine officials confirmed the presence of a second US ship, USS Cincinnati, in the vicinity. The US Navy only confirmed it was operating in the South China Sea.
This marks the first US FONOP near Scarborough Shoal in over six years, and only the second such operation in 2025, signaling growing US engagement in the region amid increased Chinese assertiveness.
The heightened activity comes two days after a Chinese navy destroyer and a coast guard vessel collided near the shoal while attempting to intercept a Philippine Coast Guard ship. Chinese state media blamed the Philippines, accusing it of reckless maneuvers, while maritime experts say China bears responsibility as the overtaking vessel.
With strategic maritime rights, valuable fisheries, and regional stability at stake, tensions around the shoal continue to escalate, drawing in major powers and raising concerns over potential miscalculation.
