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