Philippines Completes First Unimpeded Resupply Mission Under New China Arrangement

The Philippines has successfully completed a resupply mission to its troops stationed at a disputed South China Sea shoal, marking the first such operation under a new provisional agreement with China aimed at easing regional tensions.

The Philippines successfully conducted a resupply mission to troops stationed at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday. This marks the first operation under a new provisional agreement with China intended to reduce regional tensions.

The agreement was announced last week following repeated confrontations in the area, raising concerns about potential hostilities. The Philippines had grounded a former U.S. naval vessel at the shoal in 1999 to assert its territorial claim and has maintained a small troop presence since, a move that has angered China.

The latest resupply mission involved a civilian vessel accompanied by the Philippine coast guard, with no incidents reported. Philippine officials indicated that Chinese vessels maintained a reasonable distance and did not attempt to intervene. Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu stated that they supervised the operation and urged continued cooperation.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking at a regional summit in Laos, acknowledged the successful mission and praised the agreement between the two countries. Both nations have stated that the agreement does not alter their respective territorial claims. The shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but is also claimed by China, which refers to it as Renai Reef.

(With inputs from agencies.)