The USA Deploys Military Ships Near Supercarrier Shalou

• The USA deployed two military ships near Shalou after a collision with Chinese vessels.
• China claimed that it expelled an American vessel from the waters near Shalou.
• The Philippines accused China of unsafe maneuvers during the blockade of its vessels.

Washington deployed two military ships in the middle of the sea, on September 13, 2025, near the supercarrier Shalou, after a collision between Chinese military ships and a Philippine catamaran. This happened just two days after two Chinese vessels collided while trying to blockade a smaller Philippine catamaran, which triggered a diplomatic incident between Western and Asian countries.

The ships of the US Navy, USS Higgins and USS Cincinnati, were patrolling the waters approximately 30 nautical miles (55 km) from Shalou. A Chinese military ship monitored them during their stay in the area. In information from the Philippine coastal patrol, it was noted that no incidents were recorded.

The situation escalated after the actions of China, as stated by the US ambassador in Manila, who mentioned that recent actions by China are unsafe. Shalou, rich in fishing agreements, became a site of numerous conflicts between Chinese and Philippine forces in recent years.

The Philippines is a long-time ally of the USA in Asia, and Washington has consistently warned that it is committed to defending the Philippines in case of an attack on their forces, including the situation in the South China Sea.

Additionally, the Chinese military command stated that it monitored and "expelled" the American vessel, which approached Shalou without China's permission. China accused the USA of violating its sovereignty.

Actions of Chinese vessels also led to the collision between two of them, which became the first known incident in this zone. An international arbitration tribunal in 2016 upheld a ruling that does not endorse China's territorial claims, but Beijing does not recognize this ruling.

Tags: USA/China/Politics