ABOARD BRP SINDANGAN. Tensions flared in the South China Sea as a Chinese coast guard ship narrowly avoided a collision with a Philippine patrol ship near Second Thomas Shoal. This alarming incident has heightened concerns over territorial disputes in the region, which could potentially escalate into a larger crisis.

On Friday, the Philippines strongly denounced the actions of the Chinese coast guard ship near Second Thomas Shoal, an area both nations claim and one that has witnessed frequent confrontations in recent times. During the incident, one other Philippine coast guard vessel found itself blocked and surrounded by Chinese coast guard and militia ships, resulting in an eight-hour standoff. The Philippines, as a treaty ally of the United States, raises the possibility that a major clash in these disputed waters could draw in U.S. support in defense of the Philippines.

Amid the turmoil, two smaller supply boats under the escort of the Philippine coast guard successfully breached the Chinese blockade, delivering essential supplies to a Filipino marine outpost located at the shoal.

Speaking at a briefing on Friday, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela condemned the Chinese coast guard vessel’s behavior, citing violations of international law, particularly collision regulations. Tarriela described how a collision was narrowly avoided when one of the Philippine coast guard vessels, the BRP Sindangan, swiftly reversed its engines to prevent colliding with the Chinese coast guard ship, which had crossed its path at a distance of just one meter. He referred to it as “the closest dangerous maneuver” by a Chinese coast guard ship against a Philippine patrol ship.

The incident unfolded in the presence of several journalists, including those from The Associated Press, who were invited by the Philippine coast guard to document Chinese aggressive actions in the South China Sea.

At Second Thomas Shoal, a small contingent of Filipino marines and navy personnel have maintained a presence for years aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded but still commissioned warship. China has surrounded the Sierra Madre with its coast guard ships and militia vessels, aiming to prevent the Philippines from delivering construction materials that Beijing fears could be used to strengthen the Sierra Madre and transform it into a permanent territorial outpost.

Wednesday’s hostilities began early in the morning when a Chinese coast guard ship closely trailed the Philippine vessels en route to Second Thomas Shoal. A swarm of Chinese coast guard and militia ships, including at least one navy warship, subsequently emerged and formed a blockade in the high seas near the shoal.

A Chinese coast guard radio operator repeatedly asserted that “China has indisputable sovereignty” over Second Thomas Shoal and its surrounding waters, urging the Philippine vessels to leave to avoid miscalculations.

Filipino coast guard personnel responded by asserting Philippine rights to the area and their intent to proceed with the supply delivery.

The Chinese coast guard issued a statement on Wednesday night, claiming that the Philippine vessels entered the waters “without permission from the Chinese government” and alleging that China firmly opposes the Philippines’ transport of building materials to the “grounded” military boat. They stated that they had given a stern warning to the Philippine vessels and closely monitored the situation throughout the process.

This incident represents the latest flare-up in longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a critical global trade route. These disputes, involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei, have become a sensitive fault line in the broader U.S.-China rivalry in the region.

In August, a Chinese coast guard ship deployed a water cannon against one of two Philippine supply boats, preventing it from approaching Second Thomas Shoal. This act prompted outrage from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and led to a strong protest from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila. In response, Washington reiterated its commitment to defend the Philippines as a treaty ally.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the United States of “threatening China” by raising the possibility of invoking the U.S.-Philippine mutual defense treaty and repeatedly warned the U.S. not to interfere in regional territorial disputes.

In late August, the Philippines successfully deployed two boats, which managed to navigate past the Chinese coast guard blockade and complete the delivery of supplies to Filipino forces at Second Thomas Shoal. However, two Philippine coast guard ships escorting the supply boats were prevented by Chinese coast guard ships from approaching the shoal. A U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft provided support to the Philippine vessels during the standoff.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro expressed concerns over China’s dangerous actions at sea and stated that the government is prepared to respond to potential emergencies, including collisions between Chinese and Philippine ships in disputed waters.

China has consistently rejected a 2016 arbitration ruling, initiated by the Philippines under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which invalidated Beijing’s claims to nearly the entire South China Sea on historical grounds. China refused to participate in the arbitration, dismissed the ruling as illegitimate, and continues to defy its provisions.

AP contributed to this report.