Philippine Ship, Chinese Vessel Collide In South China Sea: Beijing

Map showing the extent of disputed claims in the South China Sea. (Credit: AFP)

A Philippine ship and a Chinese vessel collided near the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, Beijing's Coast Guard said.

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.