Chinese Coast Guard Ship Nearly Collides with Philippines Patrol Ship in South China Sea

A Chinese coast guard ship came as close as one meter (3 feet) from colliding with a Philippine patrol ship it was trying to block in the South China Sea in a near-collision that stoked fears the repeated territorial face-offs could spark a larger geopolitical crisis.

The Philippines strongly condemned Friday China's dangerous maneuvers near the Second Thomas Shoal, which its Asian neighbors both claim and has been the scene of frequent face-offs.

One other Philippine coast guard vessel was blocked and surrounded by Chinese coast guard and militia ships in the hostilities that dragged for more than four hours Wednesday.

Two smaller boats the Philippine coast guard was escorting in the contested waters managed to breach the Chinese blockade and delivered food and other supplies to a Filipino marine territorial outpost at the shoal, which the two neighboring Asian countries claim. (AP)