China confirms 2 deaths in Scarborough Shoal crash during Philippine ship chase

China honoured two coastguard personnel who died in a vessel collision in the South China Sea last year, state media reported on Thursday, marking the first official confirmation that the incident resulted in fatalities. The People’s Armed Police (PAP) on Thursday announced the latest recipients of its “Loyal Guards of the Chinese People’s Armed Police” honour. Among the four posthumous awardees were Yi Xinyu and Cheng Long, two China Coast Guard officers. They died during a “maritime rights...