According to the Philippine coast guard, the patrol boat BRP Suluan escorted a delivery of supplies to fishermen near the disputed Scarborough reef. Two Chinese vessels then appeared and drove very aggressively.
The vessel CCG3104 from China's coast guard "chased BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky maneuver at the Filipinos' starboard, which led to a collision with the Chinese navy's warship", it says in a Philippine statement.
The Philippines have also released video sequences where a loud crash is heard when the vessels collide with each other. CCG3104 is said to have suffered such severe damage that it is no longer seaworthy.
China confirms that it tried to "block and control" Philippine traffic in the area, but did not mention any collision hours afterwards.
These two countries and several others make claims on different parts of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough reef. It is located near Taiwan, and the conflict is also linked to China's hopes of taking over the island nation.
The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, said on Monday that if there is a war between China and Taiwan, the Philippines will inevitably be drawn into it.
