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.

A U.S. Navy destroyer's FONOP at Scarborough Shoal brings Washington's presence to the Chinese-Philippine South China Sea flashpoint.

The incident comes days after two Chinese vessels collided, allegedly while pursuing a Philippine patrol ship in the vicinity of the contested Scarborough Shoal.