China says 'supervised' Philippine supply mission to disputed reef

China supervises Philippine ship delivering supplies to grounded vessel in South China Sea amid tensions, enforcing sovereignty claims.

China said on Friday (September 27, 2024) that it had "supervised" a Philippine ship as it delivered supplies to a grounded vessel at a disputed reef in the South China Sea, after a string of tense encounters in the area this year.

Beijing claims almost all of the economically vital waterway and continues to press its assertions there despite an international tribunal ruling that they have no legal basis.

Also Read: Storms brewing in East, South China seas | Explained

Tensions between China and the Philippines have flared in recent months during a series of confrontations in the waters around the contested Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal.

However, in July, the two sides said they had reached a provisional deal on resupply missions to a Philippine ship, the Sierra Madre, which is grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal with a garrison on board, aimed at asserting Manila's claims to the reef.

Beijing's Coast Guard said on Friday that Manila had conducted a resupply mission "in accordance with the provisional agreement".

The civilian vessel "delivered daily necessities to the illegally 'grounded' warship on Ren'ai Reef", spokesperson Liu Dejun said, using the Chinese name for the shoal.