China confirms 2 deaths in Scarborough Shoal crash during Philippine ship chase

China has officially acknowledged the deaths of two of its coastguard personnel following a vessel collision in the South China Sea last year. The incident, which occurred on August 11, 2025, near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, marks the first time Beijing has confirmed fatalities resulting from such an operation.

The two deceased officers, Yi Xinyu, 21, and Cheng Long, 25, were posthumously honored with the "Loyal Guards of the Chinese People’s Armed Police" award and a first-class merit citation. State media reported that they died during a "maritime rights protection operation."

The collision involved the China Coast Guard cutter Nanyu and the Chinese Navy Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Guilin. The vessels collided while maneuvering to chase the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Suluan. The incident caused significant damage to the bow of the Chinese coastguard ship. Prior to this official confirmation, there had been speculation about potential casualties aboard the vessel.

The China Coast Guard has been under the command of the People's Armed Police since 2018. The Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is a strategically important and contested area in the South China Sea.

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They died during a “maritime rights protection operation in the South China Sea on August 11, 2025”.