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South China Sea: Philippines says ‘no incidents’ with China in first resupply mission after deal

  • The Second Thomas Shoal has been a focus of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months

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A Chinese coastguard vessel blocks the Philippine coastguard ship BRP Cabra as it approaches Second Thomas Shoal during a resupply mission in the disputed South China Sea on November 10, 2023. Photo: AP

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

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It said the mission to Second Thomas Shoal was the first since Manila and Beijing reached a “provisional arrangement” earlier this month for the delivery of daily necessities and rotation missions for Filipino troops based on a rusty warship grounded atop the reef.

The shoal has been a focus of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.

A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the latest June 17 confrontation when Chinese coastguard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.

“No untoward incidents were reported” after a civilian vessel escorted by a Philippine Coast Guard boat reprovisioned the BRP Sierra Madre and rotated troops there on Saturday, a foreign department statement said.

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China coastguard spokesman Gan Yu confirmed that the Philippines had carried out a resupply mission “in accordance with the temporary arrangement reached between China and the Philippines”.

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