A Chinese navy warship and Chinese coast guard vessel collided Monday in the South China Sea, as the latter chased a patrol boat belonging to the Philippines at high speed.

In a set of photos provided by Seasats to Newsweek on Thursday, the American sea drone photographed a Chinese warship with the hull number "101," identifying it as China's first Type 055 destroyer, CNS Nanchang, regarded as the country's "premier surface combatant."

Video footage shows the South China Sea chase and the aftermath, including "substantial damage" to the Chinese Coast Guard ship, Manila said.

Joint naval drills in the West Philippine Sea highlight growing India-Philippines security ties and a shared resolve to safeguard contested waters.

The military is considering different options in dealing with China’s growing aggressiveness at sea, including deployment of naval assets in specific areas like Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, where two Chinese ships crashed into each other after being outmaneuvered on Monday by a Philippine Coast Guard vessel they were harassing.

Filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama said her West Philippine Sea documentary was sparked by Sen. Marcoleta’s remark that “there’s no such thing as the WPS.”