Eight people are missing, and 13 have been rescued after a boat carrying 21 Filipinos capsized in the South China Sea, according to a statement released on Friday by the China Coast Guard.
The incident occurred approximately 55 nautical miles, or about 101 kilometers, northwest of Scarborough Shoal, one of the most heavily disputed reef formations in the South China Sea. Chinese authorities said search and rescue operations are still underway as efforts continue to locate the missing passengers.
The China Coast Guard confirmed that its vessels managed to pull 13 people from the water following the accident, but did not provide further details on the condition of the survivors or the cause of the capsizing.
Scarborough Shoal has long been a flashpoint in regional maritime tensions. The waters surrounding the reef are frequently patrolled by both Chinese and Philippine vessels, as both countries claim sovereignty over the area. The reef is also claimed, in part or in full, by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, making it one of the most contested locations in the South China Sea.
Maritime confrontations in the area have increased in recent years, with repeated standoffs involving coast guard and naval ships. In August, a Chinese navy vessel accidentally collided with a China Coast Guard ship while attempting to intercept a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal, highlighting the risks posed by close-quarters maneuvers in disputed waters.
The latest incident underscores ongoing safety and security challenges in the South China Sea, a vital global shipping route that has become increasingly militarized amid competing territorial claims. Authorities have not yet said whether weather conditions or navigational issues played a role in the boat’s capsizing.
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