The U.S. 7th Fleet rejected as “false” a claim by China that Chinese forces drove a U.S. destroyer away from a contested atoll in the South China Sea.

MANILA, Philippines -- The United States deployed two warships on Wednesday in a disputed South China Sea shoal, where two Chinese navy and coast guard ships collided two days ago while trying to drive away a smaller Philippine ship in a high-seas accident captured on video, alarming several Western and Asian countries.

The Philippines coastguard claims that a fighter tailed one of its aircraft and performed manoeuvres at close proximity.