China Watches Philippines Resupply Grounded Warship

The Philippines on Saturday delivered fresh troops and supplies to Second Thomas Shoal as Chinese forces observed from nearby, in the first such mission since the neighboring countries announced an “understanding” to de-escalate tensions at the contested reef.

A government-commissioned civilian vessel, the MV Lapu-Lapu, made the delivery while escorted by the BRP Cape Engano, a 144-foot Philippine coast guard cutter. The mission concluded without incident, according to a statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

Second Thomas Shoal is the most hotly disputed feature in the long-running South China Sea territorial dispute between Beijing and Manila. Situated 120 miles from the Philippine province of Palawan and nearly 700 miles from the nearest Chinese province, Hainan, the shoal is within Manila’s 200-nautical mile (230-mile) exclusive economic zone according to a United Nations maritime treaty ratified by both countries.

Manila grounded the former World War II-era tank landing ship the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to stake its claim on the reef.

Beijing, which asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, maintains the ship is there illegally, citing historical rights. China has said it would allow supply missions on humanitarian grounds provided the Philippines does not smuggle in construction supplies to repair the rusting vessel.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Sunday that the Philippines had informed China about the mission beforehand and that Beijing had “monitored” it from start to finish.

“After confirming on-the-scene that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through,” the spokesperson said.

Jonathan Malaya, assistant director of the Philippines’ National Security Council, disputed Beijing’s account, saying the Chinese coast guard had not boarded any Philippine vessels. Manila “did not and will never seek” China’s permission to carry out the supply missions, he went on.

“We fully expect China to adhere to the provisions of the provisional understanding,” he said, adding that disagreements should be handled “in a constructive manner and never through force or intimidation.”

Malaya pointed out that Second Thomas Shoal, known in Manila as Ayungin Shoal and in Beijing as Ren’ai Reef, lies within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. He also hailed the “professionalism” of Philippine navy and coast guard personnel.

On Sunday, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela released drone footage showing a handful of vessels, including white-hulled Chinese coast guard ships.

“The videos clearly show that there was no boarding or inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard, contradicting the claims made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The Chinese embassy in the Philippines did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

These conflicting narratives follow public statements released earlier this month suggesting different interpretations of the agreement despite the neighbors’ stated commitment to reducing the risk of conflict.

Past Chinese maritime forces’ attempts to block the supply missions resulted in increasingly dramatic confrontations with Philippine convoys.

Clashes in March and June left several Philippine servicemen injured. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said Manila and ally the U.S. agree that a “willful act” resulting in a Philippine death could trigger their shared Mutual Defense Treaty.

The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development in 2016 estimated over one-fifth of global trade passes through the South China Sea. China’s sweeping territorial claims conflict not only with those of the Philippines but also Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Brunei.