South China Sea: Philippines report ‘no incidents’ with China in first resupply mission after agreement

The Philippines said it carried out a troop resupply and rotation mission on a reef in the South China Sea on Saturday without “untoward incidents”, more than a month after violent clashes with Chinese forces broke out in the area.

It said the mission to Second Thomas Shoal was the first since Manila and Beijing reached a “provisional agreement” earlier this month to supply basic necessities and rotational missions for Philippine troops, carried out from a rusted warship that ran aground on the reef.

The shoal has been at the centre of clashes between Chinese and Filipino vessels in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to assert its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.

“No untoward incidents were reported,” the Philippine Foreign Ministry said in a statement after a civilian vessel escorted by a Philippine Coast Guard boat resupplied the BRP Sierra Madre and deployed troops there on Saturday.

The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the most recent confrontation on June 17, when Chinese coast guard members used knives, sticks and an axe to thwart an attempt by the Philippine Navy to resupply their troops.

After Manila announced the agreement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry suggested that the Philippines would have to “notify Beijing in advance” and confirm the deliveries, but Manila immediately rejected this.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday urged the Philippines to “fulfill its obligations” under the agreement rather than “backtracking or creating complications,” according to a transcript of his meeting with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo at an ASEAN meeting in Laos.

Manalo expressed hope that Beijing would keep its part of the agreement.

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China and Philippines disagree over agreement to end clashes at hotly disputed shoal

China and Philippines disagree over agreement to end clashes at hotly disputed shoal

“If the parties implement the agreement – and we hope China does – we will be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any obstacles,” he said.

“I think this would be an important step forward in defusing tensions and would hopefully lead to further areas of cooperation in the South China Sea.”

A handful of Filipino soldiers are stationed on the rusting Sierra Madre, which was deliberately run aground on the shoal in 1999 to enforce Manila’s claim to the area.

They must be regularly supplied with food, water and other essential goods and have transport facilities for personnel changes.

The shoal is located about 200 kilometers from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, the island of Hainan.

Additional reporting by Associated Press