How recent collision may prompt China to rethink how coastguard and navy operate

China may seek better coordination between its navy and coastguards and improve the quality of its coastguard ships after this week’s dramatic collision in the South China Sea, according to analysts.

Footage of the incident released by the Philippines appeared to show that the Chinese coastguard ship 3104 sustained serious damage to its bow after colliding with a larger destroyer, the Guilin.

“I don’t think it’s good to sit still and just get on with business as usual after the collision,” said Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“I will have to presume that the Chinese maritime forces [the People’s Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard] … will review these collisions and then they will see how best to move in a more coordinated fashion together to avoid this thing.”

The accident happened near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal, which is also claimed by the Philippines and has been the scene of numerous stand-offs between the two countries.

The video footage suggested the Chinese cutter was chasing a Philippine coastguard ship and firing water cannons when the Guilin cut across their paths and crashed into the bow of the 3104.