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.

The United States has deployed two warships to the disputed South China Sea near Scarborough Shoal. This follows a collision between Chinese navy and coast guard ships while they attempted to drive away a smaller Philippine vessel.

A US Navy guided-missile destroyer performed a so-called Freedom of Navigation operation (FONOP) near disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Wednesday, just two days after two Chinese military vessels collided while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard ship in nearby waters.