The incident comes days after two Chinese vessels collided, allegedly while pursuing a Philippine patrol ship in the vicinity of the contested Scarborough Shoal.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The U.S. deployed two warships Wednesday in a disputed South China Sea shoal where two Chinese ships collided earlier in the week while trying to drive away a smaller Philippine ship in a high-seas accident that raised alarms about maritime safety.

The Philippines expressed serious concern on Tuesday over what it called "dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference" by Chinese vessels during a coast guard supply mission for Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.