The U.S. sent two warships to a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, where two Chinese ships recently collided while chasing a boat from the Philippines.

The United States deployed two warships Wednesday to a shoal in disputed waters in South China Sea, where two Chinese ships collided earlier in the week while chasing a smaller Philippine ship.

The high-seas accident raised concerns about maritime safety and questions about the extent to which the U.S. should involve itself in longstanding tensions between those countries.