The Chinese coast guard ship that was damaged in a collision with another Chinese vessel in the South China Sea earlier this month is now being repaired at Hainan Island, according to satellite images published by Reuters.
The news agency reported Wednesday that images show the vessel with a crushed bow near a dry dock at the Yulin naval base near Sanya, a city on Hainan.
The Philippine navy released video footage of the collision, which it said took place on Aug. 11 near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese coast guard ship was pursuing a Philippine boat, the Philippine navy said, when it collided with a larger People’s Liberation Army craft, leaving visible damage on both Chinese vessels.
Chinese officials never commented on the collision, or on the welfare of crew members visible on the coast guard vessel before the crash.
China claims the majority of the South China Sea as part of its historical maritime holdings despite a 2016 international arbitration court ruling that its claim had no legal basis. Over the past year, China has sought to strengthen its claims while the Philippines has deepened its alliances and conducted joint military exercises with countries like India and Australia.
Includes reporting from Reuters.
