China Coast Guard says ship capsized near disputed shoal, 8 missing, 13 rescued

A vessel carrying 21 Filipinos capsized in the South China Sea, leaving eight people missing, the Chinese Coast Guard said on Friday.

The coast guard rescued 13 people during the ongoing operation, a statement said.

The ship capsized about 55 nautical miles (101 kilometers) northwest. Scarborough ShoalOne of the most disputed shoals in the South China Sea.

The area was the scene of frequent showdowns between the two sides Chinese and Philippine vessels. Both countries claim the waters and patrol the waters near the shoal. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

In August, a Chinese navy ship accidentally collided with a Chinese coast guard ship while trying to intercept a Philippine coast guard ship near Scarborough Shoal.