Philippines redeploys supply boats to disputed South China Sea shoal after China blockade
- Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says China has told him vessels taking food to Filipino marines, with no escort, will not be blocked again
- Manila says shoal is in its internationally recognised exclusive economic zone, but Beijing insists it has sovereignty over the waters
The Philippine military defiantly redeployed two supply boats on Monday to provide food to Filipino marines guarding a disputed shoal in the South China Sea after the Chinese coastguard used water cannons to forcibly turn the boats away in an assault last week that drew angry condemnation and warnings from Manila.
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the two civilian wooden-hulled boats carrying navy personnel left western Palawan province and should reach the marines stationed on a navy ship at Second Thomas Shoal after an overnight trip.
Lorenzana said the boats are not being escorted by the navy or coastguard in accordance with a request by China’s ambassador to Manila, who, he said, assured him in talks over the weekend that the boats would not be blocked again.
A navy plane will nevertheless fly over the remote shoal, which has been surrounded by Chinese surveillance ships in a years-long territorial stand-off, when the Filipino boats reach it, the defence chief said. The Philippines says the shoal is in its internationally recognised exclusive economic zone, but China insists it has sovereignty over the waters.
“The Chinese ambassador assured me they will not be impeded but they requested there should be no escort,” Lorenzana said. Asked if he expects that the vessels will not be blocked, he replied, “We will see.”
